The Budapest String Quartet was American Columbia’s premier quartet in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1963 the foursome revisited the three Brahms quartets, which they had recorded triumphantly in the 78 era. “Imperious, vibrantly expressive yet finely classical way,” was High Fidelity’s assessment of the Budapest Quartet’s way with Brahms, calling the stereo versions of the quartets “a heart-warming release in every respect”. In this new reissue, these are coupled on two albums with the benchmark Budapest recording of the Piano Quintet with Rudolf Serkin (“One of those remarkable moments when top-flight artists are at a peak of inspiration. This is a noble rendition – monumental in scope, intellectually conceived, charged with scorching emotional intensity. It is Brahms-playing in the greatest tradition” – High Fidelity).

CONTENTS:

CD 1
String Quartet No. 1 in C minor op. 51/1
String Quartet No. 2 in A minor op. 51/2

CD 2
String Quartet No. 3 in B-flat major op. 67
Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet
in B minor op. 115
David Oppenheim clarinet

CD 3
Quintet for 2 Violins, 2 Violas and Cello No. 1
in F major op. 88
Quintet for 2 Violins, 2 Violas and Cello No. 2
in G major op. 111
Walter Trampler viola

CD 4
Quintet for Piano, 2 Violins, Viola and Cello
in F minor op. 34
Rudolf Serkin piano
 

Budapest String Quartet
Joseph Roisman violin · Alexander Schneider violin
Boris Kroyt viola · Mischa Schneider cello