Certainly America’s greatest string quartet and inarguably one of the finest in the world, the Emerson String Quartet is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2002. And what better way to celebrate than to record an array of string quartets by Papa Haydn? “The Haydn Project”, as this two-CD set is dubbed, features seven of Haydn’s most celebrated, most elegant, and most charming quartets. They’re arranged here in chronological order, beginning with 1772’s Op. 20 F minor quartet and stretching to Op. 77 No. 1, written in 1799.
There are many great recordings of these pieces already in the catalog, almost too many to count (though the complete sets by the Angeles Quartet on Philips and the Tatrai Quartet on Hungaroton immediately jump to mind). But this set is an instant recommendation for Haydn aficionados and for Emerson fans alike. And between the popular repertoire selection and the delectable performances, this set also stands as the highest recommendation for listeners just beginning to make their way into Haydn’s pioneering work in this genre. (Paul Epstein’s nice collection of introductory essays, including an informative timeline that places these quartets in the context of other historical happenings of the day, and a clear, simply written explanation of the quartets’ structures, also will be of value to Haydn newbies.)
The players’ unmatched warmth and exquisite phrasing, matched by their technical prowess, makes this a must-own. (I’m a fan of the way they dig into many phrases with almost-gritty bowing, which is highlighted by the close microphone placement.) There’s a gorgeous richness and depth to the Adagio cantabile from the “Lark” quartet, and the characterizations are spot-on: “The Rider” quartet’s rhythmic propulsion makes the gallop of Haydn’s horseback figure indelibly clear. Cheery, lighthearted movements, such as the concluding Presto of Op. 54 No. 1, spin out with dazzling bubbliness and sparkling tone.
The set also includes a nice bonus disc of some of the Emerson’s other recordings, spanning Mozart to Shostakovich; if you don’t know these other performances, surely you’ll find something to entice you here. But what is most astonishing is to flip through the quartet’s complete catalog, also tucked into this double jewel case, and realize that these illustrious players never have recorded an all-Haydn disc before now. It was definitely worth the wait. [11/23/2002]
