Search - Dvorak, Artis Quartet :: Dvorak : String Quartet No14 ; Smetana : String quartet / Artis Quartet

Beautifully done..

bonerfly | NY | 02/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I usually like my Czech Quartets by Czech players.

The music has a certain "swagger" that, just seems to sound more naturally idiomatic with Czech players that have been around it all their lives. Perhaps more so than other ethnic music.

Sort of like a 60 year old compared to a 30 year old singing Doo-Wop today.

The younger might not be aware of certain nuances, turns, seventh & ninth harmonies etc..that made the sound of the harmony vocal music of the 1950s & 60s.

You definitely had to be there!

Now that said...

I can find absolutely NO fault with this CD.

Though not as Czech as Czech, these pieces have tons of character.

The Artis Quartet have probably made their best CD ever.

They have round rich tone, perfect intonation, blend and dynamics and execution of phrase.

These versions can stand up to any of the Great Czechs. Prazak, Panocha, Talich, Smetana.

Just as good, only different.

They can just flat out play.

Greatly helped by a SUPERB 1993 SONY 20 bit recording (even though we only get 16 bit playback to this day).

Anyway, This is one of the best recorded Quartet CDs I've ever heard.

Transparent with air around every note. Rich, warm, spacious, with the smoothest bottom and great front to back depth.

This is about as well played and recorded as a CD gets.

With playing of this caliber and the Superb sound, who cares if they're not Czech.

This is a Beautiful CD.

Give this "obscure" ARTIS Quartet a try.

You won't be disappointed.

I wanna say, I'll buy the CD back from you if you don't like it, but I don't know who you are.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

"