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Review by Beagle January 29, 2005 (5 of 5 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics: |
Although orchestral sound and SACD seem made for each other, SACD and chamber music seem to have an uneasy relationship. The smaller chamber target seems harder to hit 'just right'. Praga and the Prazak-Quartet get it exquisitely right with the Schubert Quintet and String Quartet no. 7; the same label and group strike me as too In-Your-Face with dynamics on both the Beethoven op. 18 and the opp. 74, 95 discs. Is it recording engineer, studio space, mike placement -- or just luck?
Here with Haydn's Apponyi quartets, op. 74, Praga plus Kocian-Quartet get very lucky. The 4 instruments occupy a wide stage, and the listener is seated comfortably back from the spray of rosin and horse-hair. One imagines a wood-paneled venue warmed by a fireplace, with constantly replenished glasses of fine sherry. Haydn has a reputation for humour, but not everyone can tell a joke. This disc grins knowingly at you, and you'll find yourself smiling back. Five out of five, or 99 out of 100 stars for Praga + Kocian; I will rate all future quartet recordings against this disc.
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