Quartetto Italiano: Complete Decca,Philips & DG Recordings

It seems odd to see one reviewer refer to these as historic recordings- apart from a small number of early mono recordings included here, all the recordings are in exemplary Phillips stereo sound from the late 1960's and 1970's- the stereo analog heyday. Nevertheless I suppose these are considered historic recordings now. Over the years I have loved these recordings on both vinyl and CD. If you have never heard the Italians, and you enjoy the string quartet repertoire, there is so much pleasure to be had from this comprehensive box set. The Italians play with absolute, flawless technique and ensemble. Their sensibility eschews obvious ostentatious emoting and at first can sound restrained to ears used to more obvious performances. However these are anything but anemic renditions. They play with a severe intensity and passion and the music making is profound.

Hello everyone, At 77 years old, I have always considered the Quartetto Italiano as the best one, with its symphonic approach of this kind of music. Therefore it is great to have all their recordings in a single box. As usual, AMAZON servicing was perfect. Thanks

Great recordings at a great price

excellent, thanks

Many years ago,when I began collecting classical LP's,one of my major discoveries was the QI(disc-covery,ha!)and since then,I've heard many versions of material contained herein.None have ever persuaded me they're better,in fact,in most cases,nowhere close.Here,we have a lifetime's collecting,in one handy set,and a lifetime's enjoyment,too.Possibly I wouldn't buy every single item separately,but the joy,and frustration of a big collection is hearing things you may have closed your mind to.Although I listen to Bach,Haydn,Mozart,I feel that for myself,it was Beethoven who really was the "starting point",and from him onwards,my taste developed.Of course,I'm not correct,it's just the way I feel,but with something like this,I can re-appraise those who went before,and came afterwards.The last thing to say,is simply this.Get this box,you'll never regret it,money can buy a lot of things,some,most,will be forgotten or outdated in weeks or months.Not so this.One odd thing,the quartet retired in 1980,and this release is dated from 2015.Is 35 years an important anniversary?Never mind,,at least they didn't wait for 50!

Maravillosas interpretaciones las del Cuarteto Italiano

E' una raccolta che qualunque amante della Musica con la M maiuscola deve avere ... il Nuovo Quartetto Italiano ha un modo di suonare che è unico e secondo me è quasi sovrumana la perfezione e la bellezza di ogni singola nota... sono dei geni assoluti oltre che persone incredibili. Grazie a loro mi sento orgoglioso di essere italiano perchè hanno portato bellezza ma anche rigore e grande lavoro e professionalità nel campo Musicale che è molto difficile e pieno di grandi interpreti. Io ho comprato l'opera omnia dopo che ho seguito la loro storia su Rai5... ma non mi sono fatto affascinare dalla loro storia incredibile ma dalle loro interpretazioni che facevano da colonna sonora alla trasmissione... pur essendo un grande amante della Musica classica lirica e in genere tutta la grande musica ... il quartetto non è un tipo di composizione che preferisco ... ma il Quartetto Italiano mi ha fatto cambiare subito idea...anche perchè molte pagine geniali sono proprio nei quartetti (basta dire la Grossa Fuga di Beethoven .. ma anche i quartetti Mozartiani e di Debussy e Verdi ) Inoltre la fattura del cofanetto e la qualità sono eccelsi

En 1945, à Modena, quatres jeunes musiciens transalpins fondent un nouveau Quatuor italien : le Nuovo Quartetto Italiano ! Un Quartetto qui ne restera "Nuovo" que le temps d'un lustre, mais qui durera pourtant pendant trente-cinq ans, jusqu'à sa dissolution en 1980. Chose extraordinaire, ses membres fondateurs conduiront la formation jusqu'à son terme. Ainsi des deux violons, Paolo Borciani et Elisa Pegreffi, et du violoncelle de Franco Rossi, qui se rencontrèrent pour la première fois au Concours de La Spezia en 1940. Deux ans plus tard ils jouent avec l'Alto Lionello Forzanti (à l'Académie de Sienne); fin 1945 le groupe fait ses débuts, et fait immédiatement parler de lui. Début 1947 la formation trouve sa composition définitive lorsque Forzanti cède la place à Piero Farulli, qui restera fidèle à son poste jusqu'à ce que la maladie l'en empêche, à la fin 1977 (il sera alors remplacé par Dino Asciolla, pour les trois dernières années). Ainsi le Quartetto Italiano peut-il se vanter d'avoir gardé un ton et une unité parfaite tout au long de son existence (c'est assez rare pour être souligné !) Très vite le Quatuor va se distinguer, en Italie comme à l'étranger, multiplier les concerts dans toute l'Europe, et signer ses premières captations pour Decca (dès 1948 !). L'année 1951 s'avèrera particulièrement importante : alors que les compères prennent leur dénomination définitive, leur rencontre salzbourgeoise avec Wilhelm Furtwängler va marquer leur orientation et leur style musical; alors qu'à la fin de la même année leur première tournée américaine finira de les mettre au premier plan mondial pour les trois décennies suivantes' Le Quartetto Italiano, c'est avant tout la complicité parfaite dans une expressivité pure, libérée de tout académisme (merci des conseils, maestro Furtwängler !). Des sonorités élégantes et enjouées, sensuelles, enîvrantes, débordantes de vitalité et de finesse, célébration permanente de cette intensité émotionnelle immédiate si précieuse dans le répertoire romantique. Dans sa discographie, le Quartetto Italiano se distingue particulièrement par une indispensable intégrale (ou devrait-on dire une "inté-graal" ?) des Quatuors de Beethoven, mais aussi de Mozart, Schumann, Brahms et Webern. Il convient évidemment de ne pas se limiter aux intégrales : ainsi des merveilleux derniers quatuors de Schubert, des Quatuors de Haydn, ou des rares gravures de Borodine ou Dvorak, sans oublier évidemment le Quintette de Brahms enregistré en 1977 avec Maurizio Pollini.. Toutes captations regroupées dans ce coffret de 37 CD, avec une série d'enregistrements pour la première fois disponibles en CD : ainsi notamment des deux tiers des captations Decca des débuts (quatuors 6, 7 et 9 de Beethoven, quatuors 2, 19 et 23, ainsi que le Quintette avec clarinette de Mozart), les Quatuors de Schumann, les Quatuors de Boccherini, les Divertimenti de Mozart, le 12ème de Dvorak, le 2ème de Borodine' Un coffret immanquable, que les amateurs risquent bien de s'arracher. Espérons qu'il restera disponible assez longtemps, et pour un prix assez raisonnable, pour que tout le monde en profite'...

One of the very first set of LP Vinyl records I obtained in the string quartet repertoire was the set of the Beethoven quartets on Philips - played superlatively by the Quartetto Italiano. I will not hesitate to say I became an immediate fan of this very good group. There will be others who may be critical of some of their playing styles or interpretations, but for me, the quartet format took on a whole new meaning once I had been through each one of the 11 LP records in that set. I was fortunate to subsequently acquire the Brahms/Schumann quartet set as well - once more, I fell for the impeccable style and performance of these thought provoking pieces of music. With the advent of CD, I did not hesitate to get the Philips complete set of Beethoven quartets - complementing the LP set I still have. Then when this box set of the complete Decca and Philips recordings appeared here on Amazon, there was no stopping me! Brilliant! I will still debate the sonic quality of the old LP records I have in comparison to the CD versions - but the music in itself is sublime and engrossing to the point you are not thinking about the physical format anymore! This is one of my treasured sets now, and at a really bargain price to boot!

Lately, I've been buying numerous classical recordings from Amazon. As I get older, listening to classical music is part of my daily routine once again, like when I was a music major in college. I looked up several reviews before purchasing this collection. After reading so many positive reviews on Amazon, I decided on this Quartetto Italiano - Complete collection. It's hard to describe these historical recordings, other than they are among the most inspired performances I've heard. The performances are beautifully interpreted, technically flawless (in my opinion) and I love the selection of works. Another reviewer noted that you can hear each individual instrument very distinctly. I agree, and it is what makes the Quartetto Italiano such a pleasure to listen to. Together, the performances are balanced and the instruments blend together and complement each other beautifully. At the same time you can hear each individual instrument clearly and distinctly in every passage, as if each instrument was playing a solo. You will experience it when you listen. On contemporary recordings, there is more emphasis on technical virtuosity. When these four musicians play, their instruments blend as one sound and four unique sounds, and they play with amazing expression, emotion, and subtlety. These historic records span several decades beginning with the late 1940's. The Razumofsky String Quartets are are superb. This collection includes major works of these composers: Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Boccherini, Schumann, Haydn, Schubert, Brahms, Borodin, Dvorak, Ravel, Debussy, Webern. Hope I didn't miss any!...You will love this collection. I highly recommend it.