Middle Quartets

The Budapest Quartet was formed in 1917 by three Hungarians and a Dutchman. When the group arrived in America in 1934, all four players were Russians. The Budapest became this country's first string quartet able to live entirely on performing; it owed its meteoric rise to fame in part to the nationwide broadcasts of its concerts. The players were also the first to hold residencies, one at the University of Buffalo, where they established an annual Beethoven cycle, and one lasting 22 years at the Library of Congress, where these three discs were recorded in live performance. Their style, which long set the standard for quartet playing and influenced generations of chamber musicians, was distinguished by its immaculate perfection of technique, tone, and ensemble, and by its aristocratic elegance and moderation. All these qualities are fully in evidence here: the scrupulous observance of Beethoven's markings; the beauty and purity of the individual and collective sound; the balance, clarity, and uncannily smooth taking over of voices; the supple steadiness of the rhythm. Their contrasts are subtle, they take almost no liberties, and they avoid outward effects, such as slides, and all extremes of tempo and dynamics. Their playing is noble, austere, and restrained, with a certain cool, impersonal detachment, but they can also get involved and carried away. The slow movements have great warmth, depth, and intensity of expression. The Scherzo of Op. 74 is tempestuous and sweeping, Op. 95 is headlong and menacing, the fast Codas take off like the wild wind. --Edith Eisler