Search - Joseph Haydn, Quatuor Mosaiques, Erich Höbarth :: Haydn: String Quartets Op 20 /Quatuor Mosaïques

One of the finest recordings in chamber music

Alan Lekan | Boulder, CO | 03/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This superb recording is one of the finest recordings of 18th-century chamber music and stands at the pinnacle of great quartet playing. The combination of Haydn's compositional innovations, the Mosaiques' stauresque period-musicianship and the cutting-edge DDD recording makes this two-CD set rise to the top of excellence. This recording won a 1993 Gramophone award and - with the Mosaiques' Op. 33, 76 and 77 - are Gramophone's top pick for Haydn's quartets among all available recordings. Additionally, Penguin Guide awarded this set the distinctive ROSETTE rating along with a "Key Recommended Recording" citing (ie: ideal for building a collection). One listen should reveal the reasons for such top accolades.



There is something about the Op.20 Haydn quartets performed by the Mosaiques that is ever-so-captivating. I stumbled upon the set at the library and was absolutely amazed at the unique and dramatic sound and style of this quartet. The tones and textures they create on their period (gut string) instruments are equisitely shaped and highly alluring. Additionally in these fine all-digital recordings, you can hear each of the four string's dramatic tonal colorations played in superb definition - a clarity not matched by any other recording I have listened to. The Penguin Guide confirmed such an impression: "This is playing of rare distinction which is immensely revealing and rewarding, helped by a state-of-the-art recording of complete realism and presence within an acoustic that provides the necessary intimacy of ambiance."



The Op.20 quartets are historic in many ways, the main one being that they were among the first true quartet compositions of any kind, with independent parts given to each instrument. Also, having been composed during Haydn's "Storm and Stress" phase in the 1770's, they exude a distinct (pre-Romantic-era) emotional uneasiness and dissonance - but new sounds still within the boundaries of the good Vienesse taste of Haydn. The sharp shifts in rhythm, dynamics, and tempos are part of this new expressiveness that makes Op. 20 fairly unique among Haydn's many quartets. And with their period instruments and stark yet attractive style of shaping notes (no vibrato), the Mosaiques bring out this "Storm & Stress" intensity with great effect and expression. Their bold and superbly precise starts and stops and cresendos bring great drama to the music as Haydn intended and better than modern insrument quartets in my opinion. Equally, the Mosaiques bring out Haydn's playful side in the "scherzo" movements with great bouyancy and charm but without going over into pretentiousness. Their slow movements are pure artistry and elegance and done with the most nuanced shades of tonal colour and dynamic.



If you could only splurge for one Mosaique's recording, Op. 20 is really most special and recommended. Their reading of this work is truly staturesque. Part of the reason is because their style and more robust, gutsy tone are ideally suited for this most dramatic composition of Haydn - which essentially launched the modern string quartet form. Most recommended."

Each movement is an event!

RWJ Keith | London, UK | 02/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In comparison with The Lindsays who play beautifully but lack in recording quality and intimacy (especially on ASV), the Emerson Quartet who are recorded really well but for me play with too much self-regard, and the Amadeus Quartet who play excellently but who's recordings are older and analogue to digital transfers, the Mosaiques are as close to perfection as one could wish. Period instruments are not all that important perhaps but the intimacy of recording them and their acoustics is and both are technically very well accomplished here and on their Op 33, 64, 76, & 77 CDs. As far as musical interpretation goes they are sensitive and revealing artists who are most sympathetic to how my relationship with this music is. I own several CDs by all the above quartets but the Mosaiques are the ones I am drawn to first every time in any mood (closely followed by the Amadeus Quartet). The others provide valuable comparisons which may broaden one's understanding of Hadyn but for depth, drama, and lucidity the Mosaiques cannot be bettered."