Comparison Recordings:
Haydn, Op 50, Nos. 1-3. Kodaly Quartet,
[65.02] Naxos 8.55398.3
I once wrote that there
is (almost) no such thing as a bad string
quartet, that the rewards are so few
and the work so difficult that only
those who love it will do it at all
and those who love it generally do it
well. But among the good there are the
great, and among the great there are
also colours, red and blue, so to speak,
and that is what we have here. The Amati
quartet is a virtuoso group playing
with beauty of tone and phrase and astounding
polish and precision. At times it seems
as if they want to set a new speed record
for playing all the notes perfectly.
They project the image of Haydn as the
master musician and man of God whose
spirit soars above the clouds and whose
hands reach unto Heaven.
The Kodaly group are
every bit as skilled, but there is much
more feeling in their playing. They
project the image of the Haydn who however
world famous a musician he was never
forgot his friends in the village where
he grew up, always enjoyed a good joke
and a rousing peasant dance, a man with
his feet firmly planted upon the earth.
They are not afraid to be a little rough
here and there to set off the silkiness
later on. That is the choice you face
here with these two versions. As you
can see, the Kodaly group are 11% slower
in their timing which gives them time
for reflection and pause among the gaiety
and excitement. If you have the opportunity
to make your own comparison, try track
8 on both disks, the Finale: Vivace
assai from the C major quartet of
this set where the difference is especially
clear.
Both versions are excellent,
both are "perfect". The Amati
quartet have recorded a number of Haydn
quartets and also much modern quartet
music in which they specialise. The
Kodaly group have recorded Schubert
quartets and also accomplished the amazing
work of recording the complete quartets
of Haydn for Naxos and after hearing
their disk you may want to buy them
all, for Haydn never wrote a bad Symphony
out of the 105 — I say this from
experience having listened to them all
— nor did he ever write a bad String
Quartet out of the 83 or so — I
say this in anticipation of hearing
every one of them.
Paul Shoemaker
Amati String Quartet: Willi Zimmerman,
Katarzyna Nawrotek, violins; Nicolas Corti,
viola; Claudius Herrmann, cello. 
