Search - Joseph Haydn, Quatuor Mosaiques :: Haydn: String Quartets Opus 76

None better

J. Luis Juarez Echenique | Mexico City | 07/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Quatuor Mosaiques is easily the finest string quartet for XVIII Century Music there is. Their warm and stylish sound somewhat recalls the best days of the Quartetto Italiano in the 60's, but of course, the Mosaiques use gut strings and stay away from vibrato. These marvelous Haydn Quartets live up to the high expectations, this is music making of the highest quality. An unmissable release."

The best in 36 years ...

Ed Brickell | 12/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"... when the Tatrai Quartet recorded their legendary set of Haydn's Opus 76 in 1964 (now available on Hungaroton), little did they know it would stand as the critically accepted benchmark of this stimulating and entertaining music for the next 36 years. But the Quatour Mosaiques are an amazing group and their skill is in full evidence here -- enhanced, unlike the Tatrai, by the best that early 21st century DDD recording has to offer. Finally, a recording to rival the Tatrai set!Personally, I find perhaps a bit of the warmth and humanity of the Tatrai missing, but the Mosaiques compensate with breathtaking playing (especially note Coin, the cellist), wit, and daring intellectual punch. Given my lifelong love of this music (it's an excellent introduction to chamber music, Haydn, or classical music in general) I'll play this one just as much as my Tatrai set. Quatour Mosaiques have many other excellent recordings available as well -- check out especially their refreshingly energetic recording of Haydn's Opus 33 quartets."

Pinnacle of Haydn Quartet Playing

Alan Lekan | Boulder, CO | 01/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Quatuor Mosaiques' recordings of Haydn's string quartet are in the category of "very special and highly desirable" due to their excellence of all aspects - well-studied and impeccable performances, outstanding recording balance along with a life-like vividness and clarity of instruments (important for listening carefully to quartet playing). Compared to the sound stage of the Kodaly or Angeles Quartet recordings, the DDD sound here on French Astree label is far superior in all aspects. The Mosaiques' Op. 20 and Op. 33 received Gramophone's highest "Gem" award while this fine Op. 76 recording brought strong praise. All the Mosaiques' recordings of Haydn are a pinnacle in their discography and classical catalog.



The lead Amazon review is really descriptive and spot-on in my opinion. Sometimes "period" performances can present a rather rough-and-gruff side of the music. Not here. You will hear luminous sonorities, masterful gradations of rythyms and inflections that truly bring the music to life and give it the right period, 18th-century flavours. Where other quartets bring out more honey-toned, singing melodies on modern instruments, the Mosaiques excel at highlighting Haydn's curiously unusual colorations and bold, peasant-flavored accents. I recommend listening with headphones to hear the crystaline clarity and complexity of parts unfold into a powerful listening experience. Their instruments sound amazingly beautiful - part inherent to the richly-toned 16th-18th century instruments - and part due to their mastery of intonation without use of vibrato. Indeed, this is some of the finest classical chamber music around performed on period instruments. Compositions - 5 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Sound quality and balance - 5 stars."