Selection includes Alexander Schneider Speaks about the Budapest String Quartet's early years.
Throughout their long and historic career, the Budapest String Quartet championed the complete cycle of Beethoven's string quartets both in recording and recital. Their blend of total knowledge of the score in the Beethoven and in other works, such as the Bartók cycle, combined with a unique intensity and refinement, influenced all subsequent generations of chamber musicians. The Guarneri Quartet in particular, who have recorded and performed the Beethoven cycle several times, clearly has shadows of the Budapest in their playing. So, for that matter, do the Juilliard and Emerson quartets. Solo and chamber artists such as Arnold Steinhardt and Jaime Laredo benefited from working with members of the legendary ensemble at Marlboro. Therefore the legacy the Budapest left is an enduring one that is rife with musical rewards for the discerning listener.
From the 1940s to the 60s, the Budapest Quartet was Quartet in residence at the Library of Congress. This disc is a compilation of some of their more notable performances, culled from hundreds of recordings. Though the production quality leaves something to be desired, the music making is supreme.