Minetti Quartett - Joseph Haydn: String Quartets Opp. 64/4; 74/3; 76/5 (2009)

Posted By: Designol

Date: March 28, 2024

This warmly recorded, naturally balanced disc is delightful. The Minetti Quartet offers three late Haydn masterpieces, played with plenty of high spirits and, in the slow movements, a fresh songfulness (both Opp. 64's and 76's are marked "cantabile") that's most affecting. There's practically nothing to criticize here. Highlights include the really zippy final prestos of Opp. 64 and 76, and the intense Largo assai of the "Rider" quartet. In the finale of the latter, the group's articulation is a touch clipped in the main theme, and as a result the music doesn't quite speak as it should, but better too much energy than too little. The minuet (really a scherzo) of Op. 76 also is terrific, smooth as silk until Haydn's disruptive syncopation sets in. If you're looking for a very attractive single-disc collection of late Haydn quartets, I can recommend this without hesitation. Playing time is a bit short–under an hour–so there was still room for another full quartet, but if this doesn't concern you terribly, then go for it.

Review by David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Founded in 2003 when its members were all only about 20 years of age, the Minetti Quartett is a hip, young string quartet emerging from Austria. Since its inception a short time ago, it has captured several respected chamber music awards, toured extensively, received guidance from the infamous Alban Berg Quartet, and recorded this debut album of three Haydn quartets on the Hänssler Classic label. The disc's liner notes contain an interview of sorts with the four members; reading it gives the impression of youthful naivety and even simplistic understanding of the music. The group's playing, however, is quite different. Beginning with the G major Quartet, Op. 64/4, Minetti displays an impressive ability to produce a warm, powerful, cohesive, and well-blended sound, something that is often difficult for more seasoned quartets with many times its experience. Its confident handling of the intricate inner voices creates a true conversation between the four musicians. Attacks are light without being superficial, vibrato is warm and judiciously applied, and articulation is uniform across the four parts. While the group excels at the nimble, jocular outer movements of the quartets, it is equally comfortable with the more serene, introspective moments such as the expansive Largo assai of Op. 74/3, or the simple elegance of the Op. 76/5 Menuet. With so much refinement and attention to detail at such an early age, the Minetti Quartett is certainly one to watch now and in the future.

Review by Mike D. Brownell, Allmusic.com

Joseph Haydn at Allmusic
Joseph Haydn at Wiki

Minetti Quartett at Allmusic
Minetti Quartett at Wiki

Minetti Quartett:
Maria Ehmer, violin
Anna Knopp, violin
Markus Huber, viola
Leonhard Roczek, cello

Tracklist:

String Quartet in G major, Op. 64,4
01. I. Allegro con brio (04:41)
02. II. Menuet. Allegretto (03:12)
03. III. Adagio. Cantabile e sostentuto (05:31)
04. IV. Finale. Presto (04:23)

String Quartet in G minor, Op. 74,3
05. I. Allegro (05:34)
06. II. Largo assai (06:05)
07. III. Menuet. Allegretto (03:31)
08. IV. Finale. Allegro con brio (05:38)

String Quartet in D major, Op. 76,5
09. I. Allegretto (04:45)
10. II. Largo. Cantabile e mesto (06:27)
11. III. Menuet. Allegro (02:50)
12. IV. Finale. Presto (03:45)

EAC log

Exact Audio Copy V1.1 from 23. June 2015

EAC extraction logfile from 24. October 2015, 2:48

Minetti Quartett / Haydn - String Quartets Opp. 64,4; 74,3; 76,5

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Read mode : Secure
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Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

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Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
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Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -V -8 -T "Date=%year%" -T "Genre=%genre%" %source%

TOC of the extracted CD

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Range status and errors

Selected range

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Peak level 99.8 %
Extraction speed 5.0 X
Range quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 9A6012F9
Copy CRC 9A6012F9
Copy OK

No errors occurred

AccurateRip summary

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All tracks accurately ripped

End of status report

==== Log checksum 698CD7E2B5CB2600A2D898E245B57B058082F67988D86D94CDA957D475C602EC ====

DR log

foobar2000 1.2 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2016-08-11 03:26:30

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Minetti Quartett / Haydn - String Quartets Opp. 64,4; 74,3; 76,5
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR14 -1.44 dB -21.02 dB 4:41 01-String Quartet in G major, Op. 64,4 - I. Allegro con brio
DR15 -2.97 dB -23.12 dB 3:13 02-String Quartet in G major, Op. 64,4 - II. Menuet. Allegretto
DR14 -3.18 dB -25.60 dB 5:31 03-String Quartet in G major, Op. 64,4 - III. Adagio. Cantabile e sostentuto
DR14 -2.34 dB -22.52 dB 4:23 04-String Quartet in G major, Op. 64,4 - IV. Finale. Presto
DR15 -0.01 dB -20.83 dB 5:34 05-String Quartet in G minor, Op. 74,3 - I. Allegro
DR14 -3.36 dB -24.75 dB 6:06 06-String Quartet in G minor, Op. 74,3 - II. Largo assai
DR14 -2.78 dB -22.34 dB 3:31 07-String Quartet in G minor, Op. 74,3 - III. Menuet. Allegretto
DR15 -2.27 dB -21.47 dB 5:38 08-String Quartet in G minor, Op. 74,3 - IV. Finale. Allegro con brio
DR14 -3.36 dB -23.33 dB 4:45 09-String Quartet in D major, Op. 76,5 - I. Allegretto
DR14 -9.40 dB -28.38 dB 6:28 10-String Quartet in D major, Op. 76,5 - II. Largo. Cantabile e mesto
DR14 -6.80 dB -25.03 dB 2:51 11-String Quartet in D major, Op. 76,5 - III. Menuet. Allegro
DR16 -0.32 dB -24.10 dB 3:45 12-String Quartet in D major, Op. 76,5 - IV. Finale. Presto
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 12
Official DR value: DR14

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 583 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

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