Juilliard String Quartet

The Juilliard String Quartet was one of the pioneering string quartet formations of the 20th century. Virtuosity in playing technique, sovereign creative power and precisely coordinated tonal balance with X-ray-quality intonation purity characterized the playing of the New York formation around founder and primarius Robert Mann. Indulging in tonal beauty was not their priority. In this way, they moved somewhat outside of what was customary in Central Europe at the time. Their complete recordings for the RCA label, for which they recorded in the short period from 1957 to 1960, appear for the first time bundled on 11 CDs.

The string quartet version is an arrangement by Haydn of his orchestral version; "the version recorded here is yet another reworking … Aware that all the reworkings had not disturbed the length and tenor of the original version, [the Juilliard Quartet] gathered four … vocal soloists … and worked out among themselves a version for string quartet and vocal quartet that incorporates the string quartet version in toto, plus as much of the oratorio version as would include its text and emotional impact".

These quartets are Juilliard specialties, and anyone wanting to hear this music played with a near ideal combination of virtuosity and humanity need look no further. Carter's quartets are not for the musically faint of heart: they are uncompromisingly thorny, intricate pieces that require lots of intense, dedicated listening. Very few people doubt their seriousness–or even their claims to musical greatness–but just as few people enjoy listening to them. Perhaps this spectacular set will encourage the adventurous to give them a shot. They're worth the time.

The string quartet version is an arrangement by Haydn of his orchestral version; "the version recorded here is yet another reworking … Aware that all the reworkings had not disturbed the length and tenor of the original version, [the Juilliard Quartet] gathered four … vocal soloists … and worked out among themselves a version for string quartet and vocal quartet that incorporates the string quartet version in toto, plus as much of the oratorio version as would include its text and emotional impact".

The string quartet version is an arrangement by Haydn of his orchestral version; "the version recorded here is yet another reworking … Aware that all the reworkings had not disturbed the length and tenor of the original version, [the Juilliard Quartet] gathered four … vocal soloists … and worked out among themselves a version for string quartet and vocal quartet that incorporates the string quartet version in toto, plus as much of the oratorio version as would include its text and emotional impact". The Largo, Cantabile e mesto movement from Haydn's String quartet, op. 76, no. 5, Hob. III, 79, is performed between the 4th and 5th sonatas.

The Juilliard String Quartet has distinguished itself as one of the longest-standing quartets in the U.S., responsible for the premieres of countless new works as well as commanding performances of the standard repertoire. Its earliest performances of Beethoven drew a substantial amount of attention for its more aggressive, in-the-string approach that did not treat Beethoven as a delicate flower as some quartets of the day had. These characteristics survived in the quartet even as its membership changed. This Medici Arts DVD samples one quartet from each of Beethoven's three main style periods, performed in 1975 at Polling in Bavaria.