Reviews (20)

Bach and Brain Science?
David Finckel (cello): " I don't know there is scientific evidence to support it, but when I listen to this music I feel my brain cells being re-aligned."
Let Their Be Fugue To Fill The Air

Beautiful music for a bargain
This recording introduced me to Bach's Art of Fugue, and I was was not disappointed. I am not an expert, so I will simply share this experience: I first heard the Art of Fugue today on my IPOD while jogging, and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the music to the extent that I was compelled to write this review. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Contrapuntal/Improvisatory Keyboard Music    6. Keyboard   

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Reviews (1)

Great Mahler from a surprise orchestra
This is an absolutely stunning Mahler 6.Quite simply: great sound, great playing and a winning interpretation by a conductor who understands Mahler. This certainly beats recent accounts by Thomas and Abaddo.All four movements have ideal tempos, though Eschenbach is very flexible and knows where to let it breath.Although the andante is liesurely in tempo it is incredibly moving and never drags.The hammer blows in IV are like a bomb blast.Too often we have to settle for poor sound or a dull interpretation, but here we have a great American orchestra and a top recording team.Don't miss it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Orchestral & Symphonic   

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Reviews (1)

Re-release of a Fantastic Collection
This is a re-release of the Emerson String Quartet's live performances of the Shostakovich String Quartets. For Shostakovich lovers this is a must buy.
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Subjects:  1. Box Sets (Audio Only)    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music & Recitals    4. Chamber Symphony    5. Classical    6. Classical Composers    7. Quartet for Four String Instruments   

Reviews (8)

simply AMAZING music.
i have less to say about the emerson string quartet's performance in comparison to others, but rather i'm writing to say that these two string quartets are some of the most amazing, sublime pieces of music i've ever heard. any classical music aficionado, esp. of the music of the 19th and 20th centuries, would love them, and i highly recommend them. i discovered them first through a friend, and then bought the album when, having started out on a long car drive i realized i had no CDs to accompany me. i was practically crying driving down the highway, the first movement of the debussy is so moving! (oops. i didn't mean to pun.) it is definitely cathartic music, as an earlier reviewer said. and virtuosic, brilliant, refined, elegant, emotional and intellectual at the same time, full of wit and shimmering beauty. sigh.
great bargain
This excellent version of these two impressionist masterpieces is one of the best bargains you can find.The Emersons do a great job with these pieces and the sonics are superb.

this is THE one!
These two glorious works of French chamber music, both from early on in their composer's careers are made to go together. The sometimes gruff and gnarly Debussy Quartet is a perfect foil to the serenity and Gallic elegance of the Ravel.
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Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Quartet for Four String Instruments   

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Reviews (11)

Mozart-A prisoner of his own time.
If you were to clump all of the composers of the classical era together, mix them up, and listen to them willy-nilly in a blind hearing test, you'll never be able to tell the difference between them... until you hear Mozart. Mozart's era was not rich in harmony. To me, Haydn wrote the same symphony over and over. Stamitz and Gossec... love 'em, but they were also prisoners of this classical harmony. But Mozart was able to put his fingerprint on all of his music. You can pick his music out blindly with ease because it is unmistakingly Mozart. That's why we have a mostly Mozart festival and not a mostly Kraus (who?) festival.
Good music and good value
Bought this for my son who is learning to play piano. Lots of good music, not too expensive.

Five and a half hours of joy for not much bucks
This is just about the best money I've ever spent on music. I love Eschenbach's interpretations: tenderness and emotional intimacy in spades---and dazzling effects without self-consciousness or "athletic" display of technique. I would say that he "lets Mozart be Mozart," except that these interpretations have so much personality that Eschenbach's own life-energy must be coming through. I just think that his own personality complements Mozart's perfectly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Box Sets (Audio Only)    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music & Recitals    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    8. Duo for Two String Instruments    9. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    10. Keyboard   

Editorial Review

Can an American string quartet grasp the power ofShostakovich's 15 string quartets? By the sounds of this incrediblecycle, the answer is a resounding Yes! Capturing every nuance ofShostakovich's emotionally gripping, sometimes humorous, oftenangst-filled compositions, the Emersons deliver very likely the finestperformances of these works available. Read more

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Reviews (17)

a shame!
These guys used to be decent players, but their playing have gotten worse over the years. They have no understanding of Shostakovich's music, but then again who does?These extraordinary works deserve extraordinary interpretations and nobody has yet offered definitve performances yet. Meanwhile, Fitwilliam and Debussy quartet offer very good performance of some of these works.

Could not be a better 8th
Just saw the Emerson do the 8th at the Amelia Island chamber music summer program. It is not possible that there is a better performance of this work. Moving beyond belief.

Fitzwilliam versus Ermerson -- which to choose?
For many buyers the choice for a complete cycle of the Shostakovich quartets will come down to three: the Borodin, Emerson, and Fitzwilliam quartets. I own the latter two and can offer a comparison.
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Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Chamber Symphony    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Quartet for Four String Instruments   

Editorial Review

Trust the Emerson Quartet to do nothing by halves. This 4-CD set presents all of Mendelssohn's quartets, including one written at 14, the five pieces Op. 81, as well as the Octet. This set should disprove the assertion that Mendelssohn, a sensational prodigy, blossomed young and never developed further. The difference in compositional skill and emotional depth between the early and late quartets is unmistakable; the miracle is that he could write the Octet at 16. The quartets are of uneven quality: Op. 44 No. 3 is distinctly inferior to the more-familiar Nos. 1 and 2; of the two Fugues Op. 81, the later one is far better. The quartets Op. 12 and 13 (written in reverse order) pay homage to Beethoven in Mendelssohn's very own romantic voice. Op. 80 is masterful although perhaps less disciplined: written just after his beloved sister Fanny's death and shortly before his own, it is a turbulent, heart-rending outcry of anguish. Some of the most-magical moments occur in the inimitable Scherzi and Intermezzi. The performances are vintage Emerson: impeccable individually and together, beautiful in sound, clear, carefully worked out. Although generally a little cool, they can rise to considerable warmth and passion. Not surprisingly, the best pieces elicit the most involved, exciting playing. As always, the violinists switch parts, but the whole group also alternates old Italian and modern American instruments, for the players have a surprise in store: they give the Octet a new twist by "doubling" on all eight parts through a complicated process of over-dubbing (a documentary video of the recording process is included). Here, using the different instruments is intended to combine the old and the new and to give the voices more-distinct timbres. However, the differences throughout are imperceptible. The idea of playing the Octet with themselves, so to speak, is intriguing, but the result is disappointing. Hearing four rather than eight individual voices is disconcerting, and worse, the balance is completely awry, especially in the corner movements. The busy tremolo accompaniment makes the middle register thick and heavy, the tone gets rough, important lines are obscured, and the Quartet's customary admirable textural transparency is lost. And even a cellist as splendid as David Finckel cannot save the opening of the Fugue from sounding like a growl. This may be a triumph of recording technology, but it adds nothing to the music or the performance. Read more

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Reviews (4)

First Rate Performances
This is a series of first rate performances by the outstanding Emerson String Quartet.They include all the Mendelssohn quartets, including rarely heard juvenile work, and as a bonus, the very enjoyable Octet.This is a good deal of lovely music.The Mendelssohn quartets, however, are generally excellent as opposed to outstanding chamber music. Well worth owning and listening to but a step below the pinnacles of the chamber literature.

Fantastic
I never have cared much for Mendelssohn, nor have I cared much for String Quartets, but after listening to the Emerson String Quartet's Shostakovich cycle and finding that I enjoyed it immensely, I undertook listening to the Mendelssohn cycle.
Beautiful Performances
Mendelssohn's string quartets are very appealing, tuneful works that engage the listener completely.Chamber music was an important part of Mendelssohn's output and one does not gain a full picture of his growth as a composer by only being familiar with his orchestral works.This 4-CD set by the Emerson String Quartet brilliantly explores not only the six numbered quartets but includes the shorter Op. 81 works (published after Mendelssohn's death), the student quartet (written when the composer was 14) and the stunning Octet for strings.
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Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Octet for Eight String Instruments    6. Quartet for Four String Instruments   

Editorial Review

The six quartets of Bartók have been well represented on record, far better than the six of Schoenberg or the fifteen of Shostakovich. The choice on Compact Disc, however, is an easy one, for the Emerson Quartet not only plays the music better than any other ensemble, but gets all six essays onto two discs. Making roses out of what must seem more like a collection of thistles to most others who attempt to play the set, the Emerson players show the kind of ensemble polish that caused one European critic to complain, "too smooth.... I like my Bartók rougher." But awkwardness and rhythmic uncertainty, which have made many a lesser group sound rough in this music, should not be confused with expressive edge, which the Emersons bring to the music in full measure. Their readings are extraordinarily revealing, high-intensity, not at all for the faint of heart. With the odd-numbered quartets on one disc and the even on the other, each CD is a "microcosmos" of the whole set. The sound quality is excellent throughout. Read more

Reviews (24)

The Bartok Cycle at its Best
This cycle won 2 Grammophone Awardsin 1989 for Record of the Year and Best Chamber Music Performance, and 2 Grammys in 1990 for Best Classical Recording and Best Chamber Music Performance. After listening to them it is easy to see why. Bartok's string quartets have never sounded better. The closest rivals for my ears is the Takacs performances which I also own and love.
As usual, the Emerson's just don't get it
Yes, they play very well, they are always in tune, and they can play as fast as they choose - but they don't understand the music. If you want a great version of these works, take a listen to the Hungarian Quartet on DG, or the Tokyo Quartet on RCA.

A startling range of sound and beauty from the composer and realized by a brilliant quartet
Bela Bart�k was a very great composer and virtuoso pianist who wrote some of the most important music of the twentieth century.Born in Transylvania, Hungary in 1881, he received his first music lessons from his mother who was herself a gifted pianist.He began performing in public at an early age, and received a solid musical education.At eighteen he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Music in Budapest.There he continued his studies in piano and composition.His early compositional style was modeled on Brahms (a great choice).His interests expanded and he not only began using folk elements of Hungary, but wanted to explore musical elements from his home in Transylvania, as well as Romanian and Slavonic materials.
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Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Quartet for Four String Instruments   

Editorial Review

The Emersons offer one of the very best accounts of the popular Read more

Reviews (7)

Disappointing for the Emerson String Quartet
The Emerson String Quartet, no matter what some believe, is technically and artistically one of the best quartets in the world. This album, however, is not one of their best. The playing is somewhat lethargic, and the quartets themselves, while being somewhat popular (particularly the Borodin), are not masterpieces within the genre.
A genuine surprise.
Though I'd heard of Borodin before, I hadn't realized what a wonderful composer he truly was. The second movement of his second quartet is revelatory, and this recording of it (compared to others I've heard since) is definitive for its clarity, tenderness, and directness of expression.

Excellent music, excellent renditions
Most people viewing this item probably haven't heard of Borodin before, and I must assure such people that the Borodin quartet on this recording is more than worth listening to! The star of these three compositions is, of course, the American quartet, which is legendary. Though I haven't listened to any other performers playing the quartet, the Emerson Quartet's sound is exquisite, with each detail executed to perfection. You can't expect much else - the Emerson Quartet is always great.
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Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Quartet for Four String Instruments   

Editorial Review

Both Grieg and Sibelius composed only one string quartet; along with these, this recording features a brief work by Carl Nielsen entitled "At the Bier of a Young Artist." The Nielsen was originally a more elaborately scored work, but the Emersons have successfully reduced it. It's a fine study in dark, sentimental Romanticism. The Grieg is an easier-going piece than one might imagine given its minor key tonality, with plenty of melodies, a lovely dance in the second movement and a livelier one in the finale. The Emersons play it crisply, perhaps purposely avoiding its gloom. The D minor Sibelius Quartet is a joyless piece, anxious when it isn't disturbingly dark, and it is played beautifully, with proper gravity, by the Quartet. A handsome disc. Read more

Reviews (2)

A Taste of the Nordic Spatial Sounds, Performed Immaculately
The Emerson String Quartet continues its fine reputation both on the concert stage and in the recording studio as evidenced in this creatively programmed music by Nordic composers.The concept is intelligent on many levels, not the least of which is the manner in which each of the three works compliments each other.
Beautiful Scandinavian Gems - Masterpieces of Chamber Music
The Emerson String Quartet ("ESQ") brings elegance, grace, smoothness, flair and fire to these two string quartets.Grieg and Sibelius each wrote only one complete string quartet in his maturity as a composer and each of them is a masterpiece.
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Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Classical    4. Classical Artists    5. Quartet for Four String Instruments    6. Quintet for Five String Instruments   

Reviews (1)

Crisp and commanding!
Bravo! An inspired performance of brilliant works can leave you breathless. This is one. Spirited, masterful, and exceptionally well balanced, this excellent recording reflects the passion of musician and engineer alike. Remember, too, that many great recordings of these quartets exist: To truly appreciate the classics it is essential to listen to interpretations by various artists. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Quartet for Four String Instruments   

Editorial Review

Barber's string quartet is the source of that famous Adagio for strings, popularized by the movie Read more

Reviews (3)

GreatBarber
I really liked the performance of the Samuel Barber string quartet. If played well, this, and other of Barber's pieces assume their true position of great, great importance within the American and, most especially, Euro-American composers repertoires.
Come View the Firmament!!
I'm not sure if I could think of two American composers who have less in common than Charles Ives and Samuel Barber. One was the ultimate craggy individualist, completely American to his toes and a fascinating mix of the homespun amateur and the modernist. The other was the ultimate professional composer, possessed of a finely honed technique and a romantic sensibility that made him one of the most popular and beloved, and least "American" sounding composers of his generation. And yet, as this disc attests, the two can sit side by side on the same disc without shame. Especially in vigorous performances like the ones the Emerson quartet give here. Fine American Music
This is one of my favorite discs.The Ives Scherzo is played with precision and drive.The Ives 2d quartet is beautiful throughout.The first movement of the Barber is just flawless, so wonderfully played it'ssimply inspiring.The Adagio has been nicely integrated into the wholework, and doesn't assume a life of it's own.If you internalized theadagio and came across the first/third movement later, you may not likethis adagio.Nonetheless, it is done correctly: Emerson maintains rhythmicconsistency and doesn't indulge in unnecessary rubato, which indeed makesany rubato that much more dramatic.It's a very powerful performance ofthe quartet, and one of the warmer renditions of the secondary theme of thefirst movement and the adagio.Needless to say, Emerson also nails thefirst Ives quartet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Quartet for Four String Instruments    6. Strings and Keyboard   

Editorial Review

Tchaikovsky's symphonies are red meat for the The Philadelphia Orchestra, whose classic recordings of them stretch back to its great days under Stokowski and Ormandy. Eschenbach's Fifth doesn't resemble theirs, but it's sturdy enough to stand on its own. Tempos are relatively measured, allowing details to emerge from the orchestral texture. Climaxes have the appropriate weight, and the final movement really takes off, with vibrant brass and a rousing ending. The orchestral playing is first-class, with a remarkably mellifluous horn solo in the Andante cantabile and colorful winds in the Valse vying for interest with the rich, warm strings that have long been the orchestra's glory. This won't dislodge such acclaimed Fifths as those by Markevitch and Mravinsky, but it's a viable alternative view to those and other long-time favorites. Eschenbach rounds out the disc with the first six solo piano pieces from The Seasons, gracefully played with a sprightly Carnival (February) and a gorgeously Chopinesque Barcarolle (June).Read more

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Reviews (2)

Great Performance with a caveat
The performance and the recording sound are fabulous from my sound system in the living room... can't play back from my PC so no MP3 or iPod. Too bad as I intended to enjoy it on the go also. No warning of this on the Amazon or CD.

Balletic Grace, Tonal Depth, Fire & Drama: Tchaikovsky 5
One of the amazing, blazing wonders of Tchaikovsky' music is that it survives varied musical approaches.Imagine a spectrum of interpretations that still avoids violating the spirit of the music, if not also always the letter.On one end we might find the drama, brilliance, and astounding athletic daring-do of many famous players on the discs that must now sit on many fav shelves. Think - RNSO under Pletnev, LSO under Igor Markevitch, VPO under Lorin Maazel, Cleveland under Maazel, LSO or Cleveland under Szell, and the list goes on.On the other end, we find those whose muscular brilliance is only matched by something else, by other interesting qualities.Think the melancholy Russian soul evidenced by so many great Russian conductors of the past.Most recently, I have belatedly come across the wonderful discs by Vladimir Fedoseyev leading the Tchaikovsky Symphony of Moscow Radio.These may not be easy to find, but worth a look and a good listen.Other great Russian souls also come to mind, Svetlanov, and of course, Mravinsky.Kurt Sanderling's penchant for slow tempos allows his Russian heritage to come through like gangbusters.High Romantic Drama is also captured by Horenstein and by Stokowski, both leading the New Philharmonia London.In the middle we can find several different discs by Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra in its various golden decades.
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    4. Keyboard    5. Orchestral & Symphonic    6. Romantic Symphony    7. Symphonic   

Editorial Review

The most arresting aspect of this disc is the playing. The members of the Eroica Trio are splendid technically and tonally, and their ensemble is impeccable. Musically, the recording is misnamed and misguided. There is nothing baroque about it, except the names of the composers. The trio's intense, throbbing, driven style is appropriate for the lush, romantic music with which it made its name, but is far removed from the pristine purity of the baroque. Not surprisingly, the players choose the most romanticized, overloaded editions available; moreover, many of the pieces are of dubious authorship or not written for their instruments. Their justification is that baroque composers themselves made countless transcriptions of their own and others' works, and that later virtuoso arrangers created their own tradition, but the former preserved the originals' style, while the latter are now widely frowned upon. Their most unfortunate selection is an arrangement of Bach's famous chaconne by an English film composer: blown up with newly invented material and grandiose cadenzas, it simulates a full orchestra. The packaging of the disc makes one wonder whether these fine players are being promoted for their talent or their glamorous good looks: credit is given to the photographer, the make-up artist, hair and clothing stylists, and providers of the dresses. Is there a message here about the status of women musicians?Read more

Reviews (14)

Some excellent baroque music, exquisitely performed
Yes, it's the Eroica Trio! And for those who care, pianist Erica Nickrenz's hair looks just great these days, better than back in 1999 when the trio made this recording.Violinist Adela Pena is as good as ever, and the ringleader of the trio is, as always, cellist Sara Sant'Ambrogio.They're versatile, with a fine repertoire.And in this album, they try some interesting Baroque works.I think they handle them superbly.
Beautiful especially to a non-purist--4.5 sounds good to me
I heard the trio in person in Washington--they were awesome.This CD may not be the most "baroque" of CDs, but it's very, very lovely.Yes, they had to adapt the music to a trio & for their instruments.Somehow, I think that's been done before--again, & again...So, I'm not a purist.Interestingly, the Albinoni Adagio (a very famous piece indeed) was not (according to the accompanying booklet) really his--but mostly the work of his biographer Remo Giazotto.I have 3 other recordings of it, & I like this one best.Richard Kapp's "Greatest Hits of 1720" (B00000258Y) is 10:17 minutes long but elegant; Essential Classics' "Baroque Masterpieces" (B00005YQL6) is 8:24; & "The Best of the Eroica Trio" (B0006SSOQS) is 6:57.This version is 6:58.Quite a variety!The "new setting, devised by the group's members" works for me.I only wish they'd try some Telemann & maybe Handel!I like this CD better than "The Best of the Eroica Trio" probably because I like Baroque.

Beautiful & Haunting
I love this cd.If passion were put to music, it would be this cd. I have given it 3 times as gifts and played my own copy so many times it broke in half. I'm going to get a new copy in the morning. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adagio for Orchestra    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music    4. Chamber Music & Recitals    5. Classical    6. Classical Artists    7. Classical Music    8. Orchestral    9. Pop    10. Trio Sonata    11. Two String Instruments with Keyboard/Continuo    12. Violin Solo   

Editorial Review

The Eroica Trio's recording career has been cleverly managed, starting with three albums of relatively lightweight, very well played music before finally arriving at major repertory. Tackling these two Brahms masterpieces, the Eroica proves thoroughly up to the task. They handle Brahms's difficult writing with confidence (especially the tricky syncopations), and they can produce large climaxes to compete with the best ensembles. They also capture the rapt, inward quality of Brahms's slow movements (the third of the First Trio, the second of the Second Trio) in a most moving manner, trusting the listeners' attention to hear the meaning in such subtle music. Even the packaging of this disc is more subdued than on previous Eroica CDs, although the group's characteristic poplike liveliness comes out in the charming encores. In discussing Brahms Trio recordings, one has to mention one of the best buys in the current CD catalog, a three-disc set with all the Brahms Trios and three other romantic masterpieces superbly played by the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio. But for excellent performances of these two trios, the Eroica CD is certainly worth considering. Read more

Reviews (2)

HEARTBREAKING, BREATHTAKING BRAHMS
Not since Nigel Kennedy's recording of the Brahms Violin Concerto have I been moved to tears by a performance. The Eroica Trio, living up to its name, is truly "heroic" in its fearless, unabashed, resounding romantic fervor, heady emotional sweep, exceptional inspiration, and excruciatingly beautiful Brahmsian vision. The ladies who comprise The Eroica Trio are more than simply extraordinary musicians: they are seekers, searchers, and intuitives. They would have to be. Playing Brahms like this requires the rarest exploratory nature, the willingness to probe at the deepest possible levels, and the courage to commit to your beliefs. No mere coincidence, then, that this present set of Brahms' first two piano trios is, because of the phenomenal artistry of these women, the sound world given them, and the immense epiphany of it all, absolutely quintessential listening, and for me, ranks as the very best versions now available. Difficult Music Handled Exqusitiely
I enjoy the variety of moods and subtle synocpations in this music of Brahms.Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Classical    4. Classical Artists    5. Classical Music    6. Keyboard    7. Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard    8. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    9. Trio for Keyboard and Two String Instruments    10. Vocal   

Editorial Review

Of Shostakovich's 15 string quartets, the eighth is probably best known and most frequently performed. It seems to express Shostakovich's innermost thoughts and feelings in the most personal though still carefully encoded way, giving the music a tremendous emotional impact. Shostakovich dedicated it to "the victims of fascism and war," clearly implying that he was including himself by building the work's main theme on the notes representing the letters of his initials (in the German spelling), and by quoting widely from his earlier works. The quartet encapsulates all the characteristics of his style: the biting irony, the desperate humor, the obsessive repetition, the bleakness, agony, and despair. The playing is beyond praise, technically flawless, tonally beautiful, varied and nuanced, texturally transparent and homogeneous. The players obviously have a strong affinity for the music; they skirt its emotional edge without succumbing to its excesses. Their expressiveness is deeply felt but always balanced and unsentimental. Recorded live, the playing has all the immediacy and excitement of a concert performance. Read more

Reviews (7)

One of the best recordings of the 8th 4tet
Yes, its only a 20 minute disc but for 7 bucks its well worth it because the Emerson 4tet does such a great job on the performance!You can hear all the parts very clearly (I've heard some recordings before that were a bit muddy).The play it with a lot of depth.The sadness & the irony is all there as it should be.I've heard four other recordings of the 8th & this is by far the best recording technically (on engineering as well as performance) & emotionally.Very good liner notes (an interview) as well.If you want Shostakovich's 8th 4tet, you cannot go wrong with this excellent recording!A must buy!

Twenty minutes
It is not clear to me why this CD was released.I was not familiar with the piece when I bought it and so I was very surpised that the entire recording came in at around twenty minutes.No sooner have you put it in the CD player and its over.The recording is fine but there are better values out there for your money.

Great, but maybe a little too perfect?
It's definitely difficult to go wrong with any recording of the Emerson String Quartet.They all have nearly flawless technical abilities, and their many years together as an ensemble allows them to musically communicate by intuition.They are truly amazing.Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Chamber Symphony    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music