[Kreisler jr]

Both pieces (#2 more extensively) were also discussed in the weekly string quartet thread:

Weekly quartet. Just a music lover perspective.

This week's string quartet: Janacek's String Quartet #1 ("Kreutzer Sonata") The recording I listen to: Talich Quartet Composed in eight days in praise of women and love, Janacek was under the spell of the woman who inspired the Second String Quartet when he composed this little gem in 1923...

www.talkclassical.com

Weekly quartet. Just a music lover perspective.

I remember when I first started collecting LP records, trying to find recordings of Beethoven's Late Quartets that I liked. I finally found an LP by the Vegh Quartet on Astree/Naive that I felt (at last!) did justice to the music (it was one of their later stereo recordings). So, I proudly...

www.talkclassical.com

 

[Kreisler jr]

The 1980s Talich (I have the issue with Kvapil's "on an overgrown path" as filler) is among the more "lyrical" performances. They don't stress the "eerie"/scratchy sounds as some other ensembles do. I also have two of each with the Smetana quartet (I think they did at least 3 of each, some live?), Skampa, and for #2 only: Janacek/DG Artemis, Pavel Haas.

 

[Kreisler jr]

I may be wrong but there might be FIVE sets by the Smetana Quartet, from 1955, 1979, and live from 1985 (Supraphon), and a 1976 set on Denon. But there's also a Czech Radio recording without dates, and they don't seem to fit any of the others timing-wise.....

I believe 1965 is the oldest (probably a typo). Or yet another one? Are there really distinct ones from 1976 and 79? Because Denon and Supraphon were usually collaborations that eventually appeared on both labels. I have the 1960s (on Testament and Diapason, orig. EMI Electrola), then a Supraphon disc with #1 from 1976 and #2 live 1985. And another #1 on BBC music (live 1975, with Dvorak).