Emerson String Quartet - Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon

I've enjoyed many recordings by this group. In fact I already had about a quarter of what was offered here, but there was so much more in this set, and, being a completist, I wanted it all. I have many other recordings by many other fine quartets, but this group tops them all, and this set tops them all. There is life and vigor and spirit in every disk. The guide through the 7 Last Words on the last disk was particularly interesting. It's not the sort of thing you listen to over and over, but it deepened my consideration of the work when I listened to it again.

If you love string quartets, Emerson is one of the greats!Each CD comes with its own sleeve with the track names on them.The box that the set comes in is very sturdy and should hold up for a while.The recordings are fantastic, and there are 50+ hours of music to listen to, so you will be busy listening to them for a while.The artistry of the quartet is shown in all of the CD'sThe collaborative artists outside of Emerson in the CD's are all the highest caliber.Best string quartet discography out there!

A self-recommending set from one of the top contemporary quartets. Their handling of a broad range of styles does not sacrifice depth for breadth. Included are the full cycles of Bartok, Brahms, Shostakovich and Mendelssohn, each performed with near-perfection. The bonus disc has some nifty encores; the analysis of Mendelssohn is descriptive rather than deeply insightful, but it is interesting. For the price, this needs no further recommendation. Excellent.

This is a terrific collection that would be illuminating for first experiences with this music. I am familiar with most of these pieces, owning other quality performances. I have every intention to hold on to these. Frankly, it's possible to own every version of the Beethoven Quartets and still anticipate more. I'm glad I have these. . .and the Bartok. . . and the Shostakovich. . .and the Brahms, etc. etc.etc

A must have. Buying these individually would cost around $500, buying the box set comes out to a little over 2 dollars a cd. DG quality and an iconic string quartet, can't go wrong. There are also some great guest musicians and vocalists featured for quintets, piano quartets/trios e.g. Renee Fleming, Menahem Pressler, and David Shifrin, to name a few.

One of the best buys in CDs I have had in a long time. The Emersons are my favorite string quartet, and at the low price for this 50+ disks, this is probably the best CD buy I have ever made. If you like quartets and the Emersons, buy this set before it goes away.

This Collection is the greatest records I have, and I have a lot! What a gift, what a treasure! Words are not enough, you have to listen. But I promise, you won't get disappointed If you like classical music.

Great box set. Very fast shipping. Seller very highly recommended. A+++++

The music works are extensive, the performance is exquisite, the tone color is gorgeous, the package is exquisite, is perfect.Print an index of the composer's work and place it in a box for easy retrieval.J. S. Bach: The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 Version for String Quartet / CD37 The Well-Tempered Clavier: Book 1 (extracts) / CD46 The Well-Tempered Clavier: Book 1-Fugue in C sharp minor, BWV 849 / CD46 The Well-Tempered Clavier: Book 1-Fugue in B flat minor, BWV 867 / CD46 The Well-Tempered Clavier: Book 2 (extracts) / CD46Barber: Adagio For Strings, Op. 11 / CD16 Dover Beach Op.3 / CD16Bartók: String Quartet No.1 / CD2 String Quartet No.2/ CD3 String Quartet No.3/ CD2 String Quartet No. 4/ CD3 String Quartet No.5/ CD2 String Quartet No.6 / CD3Beethoven: String Quartet No. 1 in F major, Op. 18 No. 1 / CD21 String Quartet No. 2 in G major, Op. 18 No. 2 / CD21 String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 18 No. 3 / CD21 String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18 No. 4 / CD22 String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18 No. 5 / CD22 String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 18 No. 6 / CD22 String Quartet No. 7 in F major, Op. 59 No. 1 'Rasumovsky No. 1' / CD23 String Quartet No. 8 in E minor, Op. 59 No. 2 'Rasumovsky No. 2' / CD23 String Quartet No. 9 in C major, Op. 59 No. 3 'Rasumovsky No. 3' / CD24 String Quartet No. 10 in E flat major, Op. 74 'Harp' / CD24 String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.95 - "Serioso" / CD1 String Quartet No. 11 in F minor Op. 95 'Serioso' / CD24 String Quartet No. 12 in E flat major, Op. 127 / CD25 String Quartet No. 13 in B flat major, Op. 130 / CD27 String Quartet No. 13 in B flat major, Op. 130- 6. Finale (Allegro) / CD27 String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131 / CD25 String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132 / CD26 String Quartet No.16 In F Major, Op. 135 / CD7 String Quartet No. 16 in F major, Op. 135 / CD26 Grosse Fuge in B flat major, Op. 133 / CD27Berg: Lyric Suite For String Quartet / CD51Borodin: String Quartet No.2 / CD5Brahms: String Quartet No.1 In C Minor, Op.51 No.1 / CD9 String Quartet No.1 In C Minor, Op.51 No.1 / CD44 String Quartet No.2 In A Minor, Op.51 No.2 / CD44 String Quartet No.3 In B Flat, Op.67 / CD45 Clarinet Quintet in B Minor / CD29 Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34/ CD45 O Heiland, reiss die Himmel auf (Op.74, No.2) / CD52Debussy: String Quartet in G Minor , Op.10 / CD4Dvorák: String Quintet No. 3 'American' / CD49 String Quartet No. 10 in E-Flat Major, Op. 51 / CD48 String Quartet No.11 In C Major, Op.61 / CD48 String Quartet No.12 In F Major, Op.96 "American" / CD8 String Quartet No.13 In G Major, Op.106 / CD50 String Quartet No.14 In A Flat Major, Op.105 / CD50 Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81 / CD18 Piano Quartet In E Flat, Op.87 / CD18 Cypresses B.152 / CD49Grieg: String Quartet In G Minor, Op.27 / CD43John H. Harbison: String Quartet No.2 (1987) / CD17Haydn: String Quartet, Op. 20 No. 5 in F minor / CD35 String Quartet, Op. 33 No. 2 in E flat major 'The Joke' / CD35 String Quartet, Op. 51 'Seven Last Words' / CD38 String Quartet, Op. 54 No. 1 in G major / CD35 String Quartet, Op. 64 No. 5 in D major 'The Lark' / CD35 String Quartet, Op. 74 No. 3 in G minor 'The Rider' / CD36 String Quartet, Op. 76 No. 2 in D minor 'Fifths' / CD36 String Quartet, Op. 76 No. 3 in C major 'Emperor' / CD6 String Quartet, Op. 77 No. 1 in G major / CD36 The Seven Last Words of our Saviour on the Cross, Op. 51,Including Intermezzo / CD52 The Seven Last Words of our Saviour on the Cross, Op. 51,Including Intermezzo / CD52 Spoken Word (2015) - Documentary, Interview, Making Of etc./ CD52Ives: String Quartet No.1 "From the Salvation Army" / CD16 String Quartet No.2 / CD16 Scherzo 'Holding Your Own' / CD16Janácek: String Quartet No. 1 / CD47 String Quartet No.2 'Intimate Letters' / CD47 On An Overgrown Path (Po zarostlém chodnicku) / CD52Martinu: Three Madrigals for Violin and Viola / CD47Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 12 / CD39 String Quartet No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 12- 2. Canzonetta: Allegretto / CD52 String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13 / CD39 String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 44 No. 1 / CD41 String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44 No. 2 / CD40 String Quartet No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 44 No. 3 '/ CD40 String Quartet No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 44 No. 3- 3. Adagio non troppo / CD52 String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80 / CD41 String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80- -1. Allegro vivace assai / CD52 String Quartet In E Flat Major, MWV R18 / CD42 Four Pieces For String Quartet, Op.81- MWV R 35-1. Tema con Variazioni / CD41 Four Pieces For String Quartet, Op.81- MWV R 35-2. Scherzo / CD41 Four Pieces For String Quartet, Op.81- MWV R 35-3. Capriccio / CD41 Four Pieces For String Quartet, Op.81- MWV R 35-3. Capriccio / CD52 Four Pieces For String Quartet, Op.81- MWV R 35-4. Fugue / CD39 Octet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20, MWV R20 / CD42 Violin Sonata in F Minor, Op.4, MWV Q12 / CD52 Spoken Word (2015) - Documentary, Interview, Making Of etc./ CD52Meyer: Quintet for String Quartet and Double Bass / CD28Mozart: Flute Quartet No. 1 in D major, K285 / CD10 Flute Quartet No. 2 in G major, K285a / CD10 Flute Quartet No. 3 in C major, K285b / CD10 Flute Quartet No. 4 in A major, K298 / CD10 String Quartet No.14 In G, K.387 / CD13 String Quartet No.15 In D Minor, K.421 / CD13 String Quartet No. 16 In E Flat Major, K.428 / CD14 String Quartet No. 17 In B-Flat Major, K. 458 "The Hunt" / CD14 String Quartet No.18 In A, K.464 / CD15 String Quartet No.19 In C, K.465 - "Dissonance" / CD15 Clarinet Quintet in A major, K581 / CD29 Rondo in G major (arr. of. K. 494) / CD10Nielsen: At the Bier of a Young Artist / CD43Prokofiev: Sonata for Two Violins in C Major, Op. 56 / CD11 String Quartet No. 1 in B minor, Op. 50 / CD11 String Quartet No.2 in F, Op.92 / CD11Puccini: Crisantemi / CD52Ravel: String Quartet in F major / CD4 Ned Rorem: String Quartet No. 4 / CD28Schubert: String Quartet No. 12 in C minor (fragment), D703 ‘Quartettsatz' / CD6 String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D804 'Rosamunde' / CD6 String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D810 'Death and the Maiden' /CD1 String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D887 / CD7 String Quintet in C major, D956 / CD12Gunther Schuller: String Quartet No. 3 (1986) / CD17Schumann: Piano Quintet in E flat major, Op. 44 / CD20 Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op. 47 / CD20 String Quartet No.3 in A, Op.41 No.3 / CD9Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49 / CD30 String Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 68 / CD30 String Quartet No. 3 in F major, Op. 73 / CD30 String Quartet No. 4 in D major, Op. 83 / CD31 String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major, Op. 92 / CD31 String Quartet No. 6 in G major, Op. 101 / CD31 String Quartet No. 7 in F sharp minor, Op. 108 / CD32 String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110 / CD32 String Quartet No. 9 in E flat major, Op. 117 / CD32 String Quartet No. 10 in A flat major, Op. 118 / CD32 String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 122 / CD33 String Quartet No. 12 in D flat major, Op. 133 / CD33 String Quartet No. 13 in B flat minor, Op. 138 / CD33 String Quartet No. 14 in F sharp major, Op. 142 / CD34 String Quartet No. 15 In E Flat Minor, Op. 144 / CD34 Adagio (Elegy) for String Quartet/ CD33 Allegretto (Polka) for String Quartet / CD33Sibelius: Andante Festivo (1924) / CD52 String Quartet in D minor, Op. 56 'Voces Intimae' / CD43Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 in E minor 'From My Life' / CD8Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1 in D major / CD5Webern: 5 Movements For String Quartet, Op.5 / CD19 6 Bagatelles for String Quartet, Op.9 / CD19 Movement for string trio, Op. post, (1925) / CD19 Rondo, Op. post. (1906) / CD19 Slow Movement for String Quartet 1905 / CD19 String Quartet (1905) / CD19 String Quartet, Op.28 / CD19 String Trio Op.20 / CD19 Three Pieces For String Quartet (1913) / CD19Richard Wernick: String Quartet No.4 (1990) / CD17Egon Wellesz: Sonnets For Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Op. 52 / CD51Hugo Wolf: Italian Serenade in G major WW XV / 3 / CD52Eric Zeisl: Komm, süsser Tod / CD51Total time:3394min+

Qualche anno fa, durante il concorso di musica per giovani formazioni cameristiche (il Vittorio Gui) ebbi modo di scambiare due parole con il mitico violista dell'Alban Berg Quartet, Hatto Beyerle, che di quel concorso é abituale e autorevole membro di giuria.Ricordo perfettamente il senso di quella conversazione, che pur non volendo essere una regola sui "massimi sistemi", rilevava come la qualità delle formazioni quartettistiche é in qualche modo la "cartina tornasole" dello stato della musica classica in ogni nazione. Basti pensare, per esempio, al Quartetto Italiano che si inscrive perfettamente in questa cornice, come esempio di formazione eccelsa che era indice di altissima qualità della scuola italiana in generale, non solo nella musica da camera ma proprio in generale (basta pensare ad Abbado e Pollini, con i quali il Quartetto Italiano condivide la linea interpretativa di razionale e sobria perfezione assoluta, ma anche Michelangeli, Muti e ..compagnia cantando). Ecco, questa lunga introduzione non é inutile come potrebbe apparire, ma é esplicativa dell'importanza dell'Emerson Quartet per definire "lo stato della musica classica in America". Fin dalla scelta del nome infatti, Ralph Waldo Emerson é uno dei primi e più importanti poeti statunitensi, si denota la volontà di esaltare le radici culturali di questo quartetto fondato a New York nel 1976.Il repertorio del Quartetto Emerson è infatti particolarmente vasto, con ampia "copertura della musica del Novecento e della musica contemporanea, specie americana. di cui spesso è ispiratore e dedicatario.Per il discorso che si faceva in apertura ecco che questo quartetto americano risulta imbevuto fin nel midollo di quella cultura musicale classica americana che ha avuto poi esponenti di punta in formazioni cameristiche come il Juilliard Quartet, nell'Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, in solisti quali Perahia, Stern Yo Yo Ma fino alla giovanissima Hahn, e soprattutto nel Maestro dei Maestri Leonard Bernstein.Questo cofanetto celebrativo dei 40 anni raccoglie tutte le numerosissime registrazioni discografiche per la Deutsche Grammophon, registrazioni che hanno ottenuto prestigiosi riconoscimenti tra i quali spiccano ben otto Grammy Award e tre Gramophone Award.Così come me, immagino che molti appassionati di musica avranno già in casa le integrali più famose e che hanno reso giustamente celebre io quartetto Emerson, come l'integrale dei quartetti di Beethoven, i sei quartetti di Bartok e l'integrale dei quartetti di Shostakovich.Ma la quantità delle altre registrazioni, scomparse dalla circolazione da tempo oppure recentissime quali quelle dedicate a Dvorak e Bach, e la loro qualità artistica sempre elevatissima, rende questa raccolta assolutamente interessante anche per i melomani più incalliti (quindi ancora più interessante per i neofiti che vogliano avvicinarsi alla musica cameristica nel migliore dei modi).La qualità delle registrazioni, quasi tutte in DDD eccetto per primissime in ADD, é sempre eccellente e garantita dal famoso marchio DG.Bellissime anche le copertine originali, che ripercorrono la storia discografica degli ultimi 40 anni.Bassissimo in assoluto il prezzo di vendita qui su Amazon.Riporto una foto del retrocopertina in cui c'é la lista completa dei CD contenuti, così evito un lungo elenco,Buon ascolto a tutte e tutti voi...

Pour célébrer les 40 ans du quatuor Emerson (dont le violoncelliste vient de changer, hélas !) Deutsche Grammophon édite ce coffret de 52 disques retraçant le partenariat noué entre la firme de Hambourg (et Decca pour leur dernier disque Berg/Wellesz, contrat d'exclusivité de Renee Fleming oblige) et le quatuor américain depuis pratiquement trois décennies.On trouvera donc les intégrales majeures des quatuors de Beethoven, de Bartok (magique), de Brahms, de Janacek (splendide), de Chostakovitch (très particulière), de Prokofiev, de Mendelssohn (plus l'Octuor en re-recording), de Webern (magistrale !) auxquelles s'ajoutent des anthologies Mozart (quatuors avec flûte, quatuors dédiés à Haydn, quintette avec clarinette), de Haydn (dommage que les Emerson s'en soient tenus à une poignée de quatuors et aux Sept Paroles du Christ, tant Haydn leur va bien !), de Dvorak (un peu moins convaincants) et de Schubert (derniers quatuors et quintette à deux violoncelles avec Rostropovitch).On trouvera également des quatuors de Ravel, Debussy, Ives, Sibelius, Grieg et des oeuvres de compositeurs américains contemporains.Bref, parmi les oeuvres dans lesquelles on aurait souhaité entendre les Emerson, et outre les Haydn, seuls manquent à l'appel les deux derniers quatuors de Schumann, ceux de Schonberg, de Britten ou de Ligetii (listes purement subjective).Les Emerson conjuguent maîtrise technique (intonation immaculée, vibrato serré), variété des couleurs, parfaite appréhension de l'architecture des oeuvres (aucun alanguissement).L ' homogénéité des pupitres est parfaite, avec surtout un génial violoncelliste (David Finckel) !A noter, particularité du quatuor, que le primarius est partagé en fonction des enregistrements entre les violons de Seltzer et Drucker (il est passionnant d'en étudier les conséquences en terme de style).Les Emerson furent l'un des meilleurs quatuors de ces trente dernières années (de pair avec les Berg), plus réguliers que les Lyndsays, Hagen ou autres Vermeer et Prazak.Tout n'est pas parfait cependant : l'approche des Emerson dans certaines oeuvres peut verser dans l'abstraction, un peu distianciee et donc fascine plus qu'elle n'émeut. Et les derniers enregistrements (grosso modo depuis le milieu des années 2000) semblent montrer un niveau d'engagement un peu moindre (mais là encore j'assume ma subjectivité).On aura cependant du mal à trouver d'autres sommes d'une telle qualité.Reproduction des pochettes d'origine (beaucoup de photos des membres du quatuor), prises de son de grande qualité et texte de présentation fort intéressant en français.Bref une véritable fête des sens et de l'esprit !

Je ne suis pas un spécialiste mais j'ai acheté ce coffret Emerson String Quartet il y a quelques années. Je lis toujours les commentaires sur tel ou tel quatuor et sur les ensembles qui l'ont enregistré et je m'aperçois que l'ensemble Emerson est souvent critiqué, considéré comme manquant d'enthousiasme ou de panache spécialement quand il est comparé à certains ensembles plus modernes. Je voulais seulement dire aux acheteurs potentiels que ce coffret contient un nombre important de quatuors que j'écoute sans cesse depuis des années avec grand plaisir. Il contient les intégrales des quatuors de Bartok, Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, Charles Ives, Janacek, Mendelssohn, Prokofiev, Ravel et la rare intégrale des quatuors de Webern. C'est en plus des quatuors séparés de plusieurs autres compositeurs. C'est un trésor de 52 CD qui m'a apporté beaucoup de plaisir et des journées entières d'écoute. Cet ensemble n'est peut-être pas toujours le meilleur, le plus moderne, le plus performant mais il est tout près du sommet. Je suis très content de me l'avoir offert il y a quelques années et je l'écoute toujours avec beaucoup de plaisir. Quand on voit ce que contient ce coffret, le prix est dérisoire.

Watched them live recently in Australia and while these recordings may not be quite as intense as the concert hall moments they do offer a fabulous survey of the work of a great modern quartet and great value too!