Brahms String Quartets

[Romis]

The first ever thing captured me, it was Doppelkonzert...

 

[dgee]

Tyson - as a result of your posting I bought the Brahms Quartets with the Emerson Quartet. I have not been disappointed - this is a marvellous set. I too have been frustrated trying to get a decent recording of these. As you say, AT LAST here it is. I noticed some criticism of Fleisher with the quintet elsewhere. I have only played the quintet once so far - it is superb, a marvellous Brahms performance which is so in character and so moving. Thanks for your original post and review Tyson.
PS Have you heard the Pacifica Quartet do the Shostakovich quartets? I think they are wonderful performances in the same league as the Emerson's Brahms. I only have volume 1 thus far. Can't wait to be able to afford the other three volumes. I wonder how these compare with the Emerson's Shostakovich?

 

[Derbyshire]

I need to return to the Emerson Quartets, but will be fascinated to hear what Faust/Melnikov et al might eventually make of Op. 34.  The Shostakovich question is also on my listening list at the moment.  I bought the Melodiya second set by the Borodin Quartet last year, but have been very disappointed by the replay quality compared to the EMI equivalent release from the 1970s/80s.