As Squirrel writes, "These guys deliver some of the finest quartet playing on record, with a particularly gorgeous, elegant sound – thanks in no small part to the complete set of ex-Paganini Stradivarius instruments on which they performed."
As in all its incarnations, the quartet was led by violinist Henri Temianka. Second violinist Gustave Rosseels also was a founding member of the ensemble, which here also includes cellist Lucien LaPorte and violist Charles Foidart.
 |
| The Paganini Quartet in 1956 |
The quartet, founded in 1946, had recorded for RCA Victor and briefly for Decca before making this recording for Liberty in 1957. Judging by its catalogue number, it might be the first classical LP issued on that label - one of the few that Liberty ever offered.
The sound is good. [Note (September 2025): This has now been completely revamped, with much better sound and the pitch corrected in the Britten, which was a quarter-tone sharp.]
LINK to September 2025 remastering
19 comments:
Many thanks for the Paganini String Quartet and Happy New Year to you!
Buster,
This is my idea of good tidings! Thank you so much for this transfer, I look forward to hearing it. I'll be back with my thoughts later. We shall commit ourselves to the complete re-issuing of the Paganini's wonderful recordings.
With great thanks,
Squirrel
Buster,
Interestingly, this recording shows a different group, to some extent, from the one documented earlier on RCA Victor. I would not go so far as to call their reading of the Schumann "Academic", but there is a severe and steady approach that leans that way. It's also quite loud throughout.
What I find familiar in this recording is their starting a slow introduction at a very contemplative pace and not giving away too much too soon, which helps the sense of momentum when they do finally get going. What I miss, perhaps, is a sense of levity in the Allegro. Would it be too affected to say that the older, less sonically rich recordings for Victor better displayed the pearl-like, silken sound of their Strad set? I'm not sure why.
The Britten is quite capably done and dynamic, but for some odd reason does not suit their sound or musical instincts. Or maybe it's my Britten blind-spot.
The best thing here, in my humble opinion, is how they make Schumann's slow movement ring with a nobility and clarity like some lost Beethoven work. I've never quite heard the piece that way before.
Nice job with the transfers, too. My Paganini quartet albums, too, are rather beat up too, just a notch cleaner than my horrible Hollywood Quartet albums :)
Thanks!
Squirrel
Hi Squirrel - What may be different in the recording is the approach to miking, with the Liberty being closer. This can make the sound seem more vivid but less rich.
I have a lot of Hollywood Quartet LPs. I should check to see which ones haven't been reissued, if any.
I have frequently considered posting some of the Hollywood's more esoteric repertoire that Testament did not rerelease. I hear it on the grapevine that the Slatkin/Zlotkin clan plan to reissue the HSQ extended discography on CD soon, but I don't know how big budget that will be.
Thank you so much, as ever, and Happy New Year!
It's worth hunting down a copy of Henri Temianka's book 'Facing the Music'. A very funny account of life as a virtuoso violinist with a marvellous section on how the Paganini Quartet came into existence.
You're not the first person who has recommended that book. I'll have to find a copy!
Thank You for this rip. So, here we are, 15 years later! :-) Could You please offer the Paganini's recording of Beethoven's Op. 59, No. 1 :-D .-)
MPT - I doubt that I have it, but I'll look.
Well, any from their is welcome :-) and no need to hurry, but maybe 15 years is even for the classics funs a little bit... just kidding .-) thank You in any case.
MPT - Keeping things in print for so long is a mixed blessing. It's good that it's available, but I am sure I would do a much better job with the sound today.
Well, to keep it so long is remarkable itself, and well done! BTW, do You have a contact (e-mail) on Mr. Benoît?
MPT - Sorry, I don't. He's been offline for many years.
MPT - I actually do have that Rasoumovsky No. 1 quartet LP. I'll put it on the list to transfer.
Buster - My copy is in such bad shape that it doesn't make sense to process. There are transfers out there, although the one I heard is pretty bad.
MPT - I've redone this post. The previous version had some hum; also the Britten was quite sharp. New link is at the end of the post. I see I promised the Beethoven back then, but didn't follow through, probably because of the condition of the LP.
Yes, that was the point of my kidding ("15 years"), but I should likely reflect You will not go back to the original text of the post, let alone to remember it after so much time. But You eventualy did, and have made improvement! Great. ... regarding the Quartier des Archives, it contains some DG vinyl rips, but links are gone. Maybe You downloaded them at the time Benoît released them.
Is there a lucky chance You can offer them here for me?
I mean here in the comments, or even there, Quartier des Archives, in comments which should not be problem for anyone, as it is in compliance with the original intention :-)
Post a Comment