My fav quartet is Tackas. Their complete recordings of Haydn's early and late works were superb, so is their interpretation on Schubert's Death and the Maiden.
Wild enough, yet beautifully refined.

I don't have one favourite quartet (maybe because i have a mixed collection of quartets)

I adore like you death and the maiden.

And the Mendelssohn quartets: so amazing. The op. 80 f-minor (Fanny's Requiem) is one of the most moving pieces ever written.

What about Shostakovich? His string quartets are very great. Death and the maiden I am also fond of. The beethoven string quartets are wonderful. Brahms quartet no. 1 is so beautiful. The second mv. is really warm and lovely.

Absolutely. I love Brahms slow movements

I must say to my shame i didn't listen to much shostakovich. Must take a look to....oh there is so many to be looked for B)

I like Haydn's Emperor Quartet quite a bit. My favorite is actually a quintet, by Beethoven, in E minor. I don't remember what it's called or what the instruments were, but it included piano.

My favorite chamber peice for strings isn't a quartet, but Strauss" Capriccio sextet. It's my favorite peice of chamber music

Strauss' chambermusic I don't know very well. I should have a look on it. What would you suggest to start with? I think he wrote some violin sonatas, hornsonatas? Or shall I start with the Sextet?

Unfortunatly the Sextet is the only peice of chamber music I've heard by Strauss. His chamber music is hard to find. I've heard the Sextet both in a reccording along with the Brahms sextet, and as it was originally intended, as the overture to Strauss' opera "Capriccio". Though his idea of using a string sextet to open an opera is original, the opera itself isn't very good.

I also like Takacs a lot, in fact just went to seen a concert of them in New York.
The Emerson String Quartet also is relly great.

Alban Berg Quartet gave the best version I know of Schubert last two Quartets.
But there is also de Lindsays Quartet: hear Haydn's Quartet opus 54 nº 2!

Godzillaviolist

Sorry you don't like "Capriccio". I think it is the most perfect and poetic of Strauss operas.

I didn't mean to imply that it was awfull or anything like that. When I said it wasn't very good, I meant just that; I didn't think it was Strauss' best. Nearly everything Strauss wrote was good. Personally I preffer Elektra and Ariadne auf Naxos.
However, all this might have changed, I haven't listened to it in nearly a year.

I like Chausson´s String quartet and Franck´s string quartet....

B)Listen to quartet number 6 ..that will really get your attention. Furthermore number 7, a very violent short work, and number 8 which is the most popular one.

Personally the Italian Quartet are the best group I have ever heard. Unfortunately they disbanded 30 years ago. I have many of their recordings...amongst the best recordings I have is Schubert's Death and the Maiden Quartet.