Tracklist:
CD 1
String Quartet Op. 1 No. 1 in B flat HOB.III:1
01. presto..........02:34
02. minuet-minuet secondo..........03:55
03. adagio..........04:47
04. minuet..........02:36
05. finale, presto..........02:16
String Quartet Op. 1 No. 2 in E flat HOB.III:2
06. allegro molto..........03:30
07. minuet..........03:34
08. adagio..........04:42
09. minuet..........03:32
10. presto..........02:06
String Quartet Op. 1 No. 3 in D HOB.III:3
11. adagio..........05:00
12. menuet..........02:49
13. scherzo, presto..........01:33
14. menuet..........03:21
15. presto..........01:40
String Quartet Op. 1 No. 4 in G HOB.III:4
16. presto..........03:53
17. minuet..........03:48
18. adagio ma non tanto..........04:24
19. minuet..........03:44
20. finale, presto..........04:00
CD 2
String Quartet Op. 1 No. 0 in E flat HOB.II:6
01. presto..........02:24
02. menuet..........04:16
03. adagio..........05:11
04. menuet..........04:09
05. presto..........02:24
String Quartet Op. 1 No. 6 in C HOB.III:6
06. presto assai..........01:53
07. minuet..........03:45
08. adagio..........06:19
09. minuet..........04:31
10. finale, allegro..........02:22
String Quartet Op. 2 No. 1 in A HOB.III:7
11. allegro..........03:42
12. menuet..........03:18
13. adagio..........05:05
14. menuet..........02:52
15. allegro molto..........02:20
CD 3
String Quartet Op. No. 2 in E HOB.III:8
01. allegro molto..........03:22
02. menuet..........03:27
03. adagio..........05:56
04. menuet..........03:11
05. finale, presto..........03:13
String Quartet Op. 2 No 4 in F HOB.III:10
06. presto..........03:51
07. menuet..........04:10
08. adagio..........05:03
09. menuet, allegretto..........02:05
10. finale, allegro..........02:23
String Quartet Op. 2 No. 6 in B HOB.III:12
11. adagio..........06:19
12. menuet..........03:35
13. scherzo, presto..........02:03
14. menuet..........02:37
15. presto..........02:24
CD 4
String Quartet Op. 9 No. 4 in D minor HOB.III:22
01. moderato..........06:38
02. menuetto-trio..........04:39
03. adagio cantabile..........05:17
04. finale presto..........04:05
String Quartet Op. 9 No. 1,in C HOB. III:19
05. moderato..........05:27
06. menuett, uno poco allegretto-trio..........03:24
07. adagio..........06:57
08. finale, presto..........02:52
String Quartet Op. 9 No. 3 in G HOB.III:21
09. allegro molto..........04:20
10. menuetto, allegretto-trio..........03:03
11. largo..........05:55
12. finale, presto..........03:04
CD 5
String Quartet Op. 9 No. 2 in E flat HOB.III:20
01. moderato..........06:06
02. menuetto-trio..........02:35
03. adagio..........05:18
04. finale, allegro molto..........03:28
String Quartet Op. 9 No. 5 in B flat HOB.III:23
05. poco adagio..........06:53
06. menuetto, allegro-trio..........02:46
07. largo cantabile..........06:49
08. finale, presto..........05:17
String Quartet Op. 9 No. 6 in A HOB.III:24
09. presto..........03:47
10. menuetto-trio..........04:17
11. adagio..........04:18
12. finale, presto..........01:29
CD 6
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 2 in F HOB.III:26
01. moderato..........04:56
02. menuet, poco allegretto..........03:20
03. adagio..........05:02
04. finale, allegro di molto..........03:59
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 1 in E HOB.III:25
05. moderato..........06:26
06. menuet..........05:12
07. adagio..........07:23
08. finale, presto..........03:42
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 4 in C minor HOB.III:28
09. moderato..........06:00
10. menuet, allegretto..........04:52
11. adagio..........06:48
12. finale, allegro..........04:16
CD 7
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 6 in D HOB.III:30
01. presto..........04:37
02. menuet..........02:55
03. largo..........06:05
04. finale, allegro..........04:16
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 3 in E flat HOB.III:27
05. andante grazioso..........06:55
06. menuet, allegretto..........03:12
07. adagio..........08:14
08. allegro di molto..........03:58
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 5 in G HOB.III:29
09. moderato..........06:03
10. menuet, allegretto..........02:36
11. adagio..........05:13
12. finale, presto..........02:43
CD 8
String quartet Op. 20 No. 5 in F minor HOB.III:35
01. moderato..........06:54
02. menuet..........05:50
03. adagio..........05:27
04. finale, fuga a 2 soggetti..........02:59
String quartet Op. 20 No. 6 in A HOB.III:36
05. allegrodi molto e scherzando..........05:32
06. adagio..........05:26
07. menuet..........02:28
08. Fuga a 3 soggetti: allegro..........03:01
String Quartet Op. 20 No. 2 in C HOB.III:32
09. moderato..........06:49
10. capriccio-adagio..........05:44
11. menuet..........03:46
12. Fuga a 4 soggetti allegro..........03:28
CD 9
String quartet Op. 20 No. 3 in G minor HOB.III:33
01. allegro con spirito..........06:03
02. menuet..........04:47
03. poco adagio..........08:49
04. finale, allegro di molto..........03:55
String quartet Op. 20 No. 4 in D HOB.III:34
05. allegro di molto..........07:24
06. un poco adagio e affetuoso..........08:24
07. menuet alla zingarese..........01:33
08. presto e scherzando..........04:52
String quartet Op. 20 No. 1 in E flat HOB.III:31
09. allegro moderato..........06:25
10. menuet..........04:05
11. affetuoso e sostenuto..........06:05
12. finale, presto..........03:35
CD 10
String Quartet Op. 33 No. 5 in G HOB.III:41
01. vivace assai..........05:51
02. largo e cantabile..........04:15
03. scherzo, allegro..........02:48
04. finale, allegretto..........04:52
String Quartet Op. 33 No. 2 in E flat HOB.III:38
05. allegro moderato..........04:53
06. scherzo, allegro..........03:11
07. largo e sostenuto..........04:09
08. finale presto..........03:12
String Quartet Op. 33 No. 1 in B minor HOB.III:37
09. allegro moderato..........05:09
10. scherzo, allegro di molto..........02:04
11. andante..........06:28
12. presto..........03:59
CD 11
String Quartet Op. 33 No. 3 in C HOB.III:39 "Bird"/"Vogelquartett"
01. allegro moderato..........09:41
02. scherzo, allegretto..........02:38
03. adagio, ma non troppo..........05:26
04. rondo, presto..........02:52
String Quartet Op. 33 No. 6 in D HOB.III:42
05. vivace assai..........06:31
06. andante..........04:07
07. scherzo, allegretto..........02:16
08. finale, allegretto..........04:12
String Quartet Op. 33 No. 4 in B flat HOB.III:40
09. allegro moderato..........04:54
10. scherzo, allegretto..........02:10
11. largo..........04:15
12. presto..........04:49
String Quartet Op. 42 in D minor HOB.III:43
13. anadante e onnocentemente..........03:58
14. menuet..........02:45
15. adagio e cantabile..........03:09
16. finale, presto..........02:40
CD 12
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 1 in B flat HOB.III:45
01. allegro..........05:23
02. adagio non lento..........07:21
03. menuetto. Poco allegretto - Trio..........03:04
04. finale - Vivace..........05:01
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 2 in C HOB.III:45
05. vivace..........07:04
06. adagio..........04:46
07. menuetto. Allegretto - Trio..........04:04
08. finale. Vivace assai..........04:50
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 3 in E flat HOB.III:46
09. allegro con brio..........04:38
10. andante piщ tosto allegretto..........06:34
11. menuetto. Allegretto - Trio..........04:45
12. finale. Presto..........03:37
CD 13
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 4 in F sharp minor HOB.III:47
01. allegro spirituoso..........05:20
02. andante..........06:55
03. menuetto. Poco allegretto - Trio..........04:15
04. finale. Fuga. Allegro molto..........02:05
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 5 in B HOB.III:48
05. allegro moderato..........05:07
06. poco adagio..........03:17
07. tempo di menuetto. Allegretto - Trio..........03:46
08. finale. Vivace..........03:57
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 6 in D HOB.III:49
09. allegro..........06:15
10. poco adagio..........06:33
11. menuetto. Allegretto - Trio..........04:24
12. finale. Allegro con spirito..........05:07
CD 14
String Quartet Op.54 No.1 in G HOB. III:58
01. vivace Assai..........07:34
02. andante piu tosto Allegretto..........05:04
03. menuetto - Trio..........04:16
04. finale: Vivace..........03:45
String Quartet Op.54 No.2 in C HOB. III:57
05. vivace..........05:28
06. adagio..........02:58
07. menuetto: Allegretto - Trio..........03:29
08. finale: Adagio - Presto - Adagio..........05:56
String Quartet Op.54 No.3 in E HOB. III:59
09. allegro..........06:31
10. largo..........07:54
11. menuetto: Allegretto - Trio..........03:36
12. finale: Presto..........04:52
CD 15
String Quartet Op.55 No.1 in A HOB. III:60
01. allegro..........05:57
02. adagio cantabile..........04:59
03. menuet - Trio..........03:10
04. finale: Vivace..........03:01
String Quartet Op.55 No.2 in A HOB. III:61
05. andante o piu tosto allegr.............09:46
06. allegro..........05:19
07. menuetto: Allegretto - Trio..........05:23
08. finale: Presto..........05:51
String Quartet Op.55 No.3 in B FLAT HOB. III:62
09. vivace Assai..........06:52
10. adagio ma non troppo..........07:01
11. menueto - Trio..........04:10
12. finale: Presto..........05:17
CD 16
String Quartet Op. 64 No. 1 In C HOB.III:65
01. allegro moderato..........06:14
02. menuet, allegretto ma non troppo..........04:48
03. allegretto scherzando..........06:42
04. finale presto..........03:28
05. allegro spirituoso..........05:19
String Quartet Op. 64 No. 2 In C HOB.III:68
06. adagio ma non troppo..........05:52
07. menuet, allegretto..........02:42
08. finale, presto..........04:17
String Quartet Op. 64 No. 3 In C HOB.III:67
09. vivace assai..........05:33
10. adagio..........04:57
11. menuet, allegretto..........04:53
12. finale, allegro con spirito..........05:15
CD 17
String Quartet Op. 64 No. 4 In G HOB.III:66
01. allegro con brio..........05:11
02. menuetto, allegretto..........03:51
03. adagio..........04:47
04. finale, presto..........04:13
String Quartet Op. 64 No. 6 In E flat HOB.III:64
05. allegro..........05:22
06. andante..........04:30
07. menuet, allegretto..........05:05
08. finale, presto..........03:27
String Quartet Op. 64 No. 5 In D HOB.III:63
09. allegro moderato..........05:38
10. adagio cantabile..........05:50
11. menuet, allegretto..........03:41
12. finale, vivace..........02:18
CD 18
String Quartet Op. 71 No. 1 in B flat HOB.III:69
01. allegro..........06:53
02. adagio..........05:14
03. menuet, allegretto..........03:30
04. finale, vivace..........04:52
String Quartet Op. 71 No. 2 in D HOB.III:70
05. adagio-allegro..........06:08
06. adagio..........04:53
07. menuet, allegro..........01:59
08. finale, allegretto-allegro..........03:51
String Quartet Op. 71 No. 3 in E flat HOB.III:71
09. vivace..........06:27
10. andante con moto..........07:12
11. menuet..........04:33
12. finale, vivace..........04:12
CD 19
String Quartet Op. 74 No. 1, in C HOB.III:72
01. Allegro moderato..........06:33
02. Andante grazioso..........06:23
03. Menuet, allegro..........04:07
04. Finale vivace..........05:54
String Quartet Op. 74 No. 2, in F HOB.III:73
05. Allegro spiritoso..........06:45
06. Andante grazioso..........07:37
07. Menuet..........04:11
08. Finale, presto..........04:16
String Quartet Op. 74 No. 3, in G minor HOB.III:74 "Rider"/“Reiter Quartett”
09. Allegro..........05:23
10. Largo assai..........06:10
11. Menuet, allegretto..........03:49
12. Finale, allegro con.............05:46
CD 20
String Quartet Op. 76 No. 1 in G HOB.III:75
01. Allegro con spirito..........08:21
02. Adagio sostenuto..........07:03
03. Menuet. Presto - Trio..........02:30
04. Finale. Allegro ma non troppo..........06:34
String Quartet Op. 76 No. 2 in D minor HOB.III:75 "Fifths"/"Quintenquartett"
05. Allegro..........09:20
06. Andante o piщ tosto allegretto..........05:41
07. Menuet. Allegro - Trio..........02:53
08. Finale. Vivace assai..........04:15
String Quartet Op. 76 No. 3 in C HOB.III:77 "Emperor"/"Kaiserquartet"
09. Allegro..........10:14
10. Poco adagio..........06:24
11. Menuet. Allegro - Trio..........04:50
12. Finale. Presto..........05:46
CD 21
String Quartet Op. 76 No. 4 in B flat HOB.III:78 "Sunrise"/"Sonnenaufgangsquartett
01. Allegro con spirito..........08:48
02. Adagio..........05:39
03. Menuet. Allegro - Trio..........04:06
04. Finale. Allegro ma non troppo - piu allegro - piu presto..........04:27
String Quartet Op. 76 No. 5 in D HOB.III:79
05. Allegretto - Allegro..........05:00
06. Largo. Cantabile e mesto..........06:55
07. Menuet. Allegro - Trio..........02:36
08. Finale. Presto..........03:46
String Quartet Op. 76 No. 6 in E flat HOB.III:80
09. Allegretto - Allegro..........06:38
10. Fantasia. Adagio..........06:46
11. Menuet. Presto - Alternativo..........03:24
12. Finale, Allegro spiritoso..........06:36
CD 22
String Quartet Op.77 No. 1 in G HOB.III:81
01. allegro moderato..........06:43
02. adagio..........06:23
03. menuet, presto..........03:54
04. finale presto..........05:38
String Quartet Op.77 No. 2 in F HOB.III:82
05. allegro moderato..........07:08
06. menuet, presto..........04:50
07. andante..........06:28
08. Fianle, vivace assai..........05:54
String Quartet Op.103 in D minor HOB.III:83
09. andante grazioso..........06:21
10. menuet, ma non troppo presto..........05:01
CD 23
Die sieben letzen worte unseres erlosers am kreuze (The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross)
String Quartet version Op. 51 HOB.III:50-56
01. Introduction, maestoso ed adagio..........05:13
02. Pater, dimitte illis, quia sciunt, quid faciunt: Largo..........06:20
03. Hodie mecum eris in paradiso: grave e cantabile..........07:27
04. Mulier, ecce filius tuus, et tu, ecce mater tua: grave..........09:13
05. Deus meus, Deus meus, utquit dereliquisti me?:Largo..........08:16
06. Sitio: adagio..........05:38
07. Consummatum est: lento..........05:45
08. In manus tuas, Pater, commendo spiritum meum: largo..........07:43
09. Il terremoto: presto e con tutta la forza..........01:58
That is what makes Bernstein’s Haydn symphonies and masses so entrancing, and it applies equally to the Buchberger’s string quartets. Joy reigns, especially from op. 33 through op. 64 ( The Seven Last Words and op. 55 are exceptions). I think I have finally figured out what makes this ensemble so special: these four musicians love this music, and love to play it. I’m sure other groups do, too, but they do not make it so obvious in their recordings. The Buchberger’s love and joy project from the speakers, and through the head phones, with almost every phrase, bringing the music to life as no other ensemble does. They can be solid and serious when required, too (opp. 20, 51, and 55). Perhaps they are unable to take the final step up to the sophistication and elegance of opp. 71, 74, 76, and 77; but perhaps it is just that so many superb ensembles have recorded these works, making it difficult for any one performance to stand out. I should mention a recent recording of op. 103 (reviewed in this issue?) which has quickly become my favorite: the Edding Quartet (founded in 2007!) on Et’cetera.
I would never dream of depending on a single recorded set of Beethoven symphonies, and I don’t imagine that any complete set of Haydn quartets could satisfy everyone all the time. But the Buchberger comes as close as I ever expect to hear. It makes performances by the Tatrai or the Kodály Quartet—both of which are technically excellent—sound dull and flat. I have heard only brief samples of the Los Angeles Quartet’s Haydn, and was not impressed. Among period ensembles, both the Mosaïques and Festetics Quartets have recorded compete cycles; each is precise, takes all repeats, and the former has a gorgeous ensemble sound, but the Buchberger makes them both seem overly conservative, even square, as is the rapidly progressing (modern-instrument) set by the Auryn. Only The Lindsays match the Buchberger for imagination and spirit, but their performances lack the tonal blandishments heard here. Bravo, Buchberger! -- James H. North
