Search - Franz Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf :: Weller Quartet: Decca Recordings, 1964-1970 [Box Set]

An under-appreciated quartet

E. Weed | Houston, TX | 02/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was through the Weller Quartet that I came to love the Brahms Op. 51 quartets during music school years ago. Theirs are very warm and loving performances in a style of playing that one finds less of now. The quartet's history tells you much of what to expect--all of the players were from the Vienna Philharmonic, and were the sons of professional musicians. Their sense of ensemble is first rate, and their sound is warm, even lush at times, though with reserve.



Walter Weller's comments say much about their interpretive stance: "nothing should be exaggerated--too much of any dynamic does not make any musical sense"..."always floating, never hard or sharp." Indeed, to me, their Brahms was like a warm bath...not to say that it was lacking in passion, but there was nothing fierce or overly aggressive about it.



Listening to the other performances in this box (some of which I'd heard, some not) provided a similar pleasure. The Wellers' approach harkens back to the traditions from which it came; very solid music making, impeccable ensemble, warm sound, and, while not lacking in energy or excitement, overall somewhat conservative.



This is not to say I don't enjoy some of the great quartets of our day: The Emersons, Leipzig, Takacs. In fact, it is probably fair to say that the latter 2 in particular descend, to some extent, from the Weller-type tradition.



But I would urge those seriously interested in chamber music to invest in this box, for the pleasure of hearing a somewhat different approach, and, definitely, for the pleasure of a number of hours of fine music making. The recorded sound is first rate for Decca in the 60's."