These performances of three of Haydn's Opus 76 string quartets by the Gewandhaus-Quartet are magnificently and unabashedly Romantic. Period instrument fans may object to the vibrato and rubato employed by the Leipzig musicians, and classical purists may be offended by the heightened expressivity and deep sensitivity of their interpretations. But listeners unencumbered by such prejudices are likely to find these accounts everything they could hope for in Haydn string quartet playing. The closing Vivace assai of Op. 76/2 is ...
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These performances of three of Haydn's Opus 76 string quartets by the Gewandhaus-Quartet are magnificently and unabashedly Romantic. Period instrument fans may object to the vibrato and rubato employed by the Leipzig musicians, and classical purists may be offended by the heightened expressivity and deep sensitivity of their interpretations. But listeners unencumbered by such prejudices are likely to find these accounts everything they could hope for in Haydn string quartet playing. The closing Vivace assai of Op. 76/2 is wonderfully driven without being overdriven; the opening Allegro con spirito of Op. 76/4 is richly lyrical without being overly lush; and the central Poco adagio from Op. 76/3 is heartwarming without succumbing to sentimentality. Recorded in very immediate digital sound, these performances are in every way as fine as the same group's Beethoven quartet recordings, and listeners who enjoyed those performances will surely enjoy these. ~ James Leonard, Rovi
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