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."
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| Signage for an Ann Arbor concert |
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 quartet, founded in 1946, had recorded for RCA Victor and briefly for Decca before making this recording for Liberty circa 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. The Schumann was very clean, with the Britten more problematic, and some occasional minor noise remains on that side.
I'll also be transferring the Paganini's recording of Beethoven's Op. 59, No. 1 Rasumovsky quartet, at some future time.
Transfers are in flac format. Links:
ReplyDeletehttp://rapidshare.com/files/439427268/Schumann__Britten_-_Paganini_String_Quartet.zip
http://www.mediafire.com/?5dl90ozjct7slqf
Many thanks for the Paganini String Quartet and Happy New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteBuster,
ReplyDeleteThis 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,
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, as ever, and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteIt'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.
ReplyDeleteYou're not the first person who has recommended that book. I'll have to find a copy!
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