Vegh Quartet: Bartok – Complete String Quartets (3 CD, FLAC)

Composer: Bela Bartok
Performer: Vegh Quartet
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 3
Format: FLAC (tracks+cue)
Label: Naive
Size: 703 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 1
1. String Quartet No. 1 in A minor, Sz. 40, BB 52 (Op. 7)
2. String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Sz. 67, BB 75 (Op. 17): I. Moderato
3. String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Sz. 67, BB 75 (Op. 17): II. Allegro molto capriccioso
4. String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Sz. 67, BB 75 (Op. 17): III. Lento

Disc: 2
1. String Quartet No. 3 in C sharp major, Sz. 85, BB 93
2. String Quartet No. 4 in C major, Sz. 91, BB 95: I. Allegro
3. String Quartet No. 4 in C major, Sz. 91, BB 95: II. Prestissimo, con sordino
4. String Quartet No. 4 in C major, Sz. 91, BB 95: III. Non troppo lento
5. String Quartet No. 4 in C major, Sz. 91, BB 95: IV. Allegretto pizzicato
6. String Quartet No. 4 in C major, Sz. 91, BB 95: V. Allegro molto

Disc: 3
1. String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major, Sz. 102, BB 110: I. Allegro
2. String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major, Sz. 102, BB 110: II. Adagio molto
3. String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major, Sz. 102, BB 110: III. Scherzo
4. String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major, Sz. 102, BB 110: IV. Andante
5. String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major, Sz. 102, BB 110: V. Finale
6. String Quartet No. 6 in D major, Sz. 114, BB 119: I. Mesto – Piu mosso, pesante – Vivace
7. String Quartet No. 6 in D major, Sz. 114, BB 119: II. Mesto – Marcia
8. String Quartet No. 6 in D major, Sz. 114, BB 119: III. Mesto – Burletta
9. String Quartet No. 6 in D major, Sz. 114, BB 119: IV. Mesto

When I was but a lad, I was drawn to the Julliard Quartet’s famed LPs of the six quartets of Bartok — seminal works of Atonalism and rhythmic exuberance that are strikingly original and intriguing even to the unschooled ear. If you are in that category, buy the excellent Emerson Quartet versions on DGG. But for deeper, more probing, and,dare I say, AUTHENTIC readings, buy this set. It does everything with less. You won’t find yourself trying to impress your friends with wild pyrotechnics, but you will enjoy the Vegh performances for their deep introspection and their revelations of the Bartok Mystery — one of the marvels of the 20th century. For serious listeners.