String Quartets (Nos. 1-6)

Béla Bartók

String Quartet

Hungarian Quartet

1961

Gil's first choice. A vintage recording that sounds sumptuous and warm. The interpretations are immaculate and strike the right tone, drawing the listener into Bartok's sound world.

Takács Quartet

1996 Excellent, fairly reverberant sound.

The modern classic. Very expressive, assertive, and dramatic. They leave no stone unturned. A must-have.

Alban Berg Quartet

mid 80s Digital sound.

An excellent way to hear these quartets. The Alban Berg Quartet's immaculate, proficient, and almost clinical approach lends itself well to Bartok's mentally challenging music, revealing all lines with wonderful clarity.

Végh Quartet

1954 Mono recording. A little bit rough sounding.

Really intense, very communicative, and thoughtful interpretations. A wonderfully artistic and introspective quartet.

Juilliard Quartet

1950 Mono recording.

Gil's potential desert island version. This mono recording has an intensity and obvious connection to the music, with such intense passion that it 'sells' the music.