I stumbled upon Janacek pretty young. It scared the hell out of me. And thus a new love was born. 🖤 🤘

First heard these quartets listening to Fleetwood's overnight show in NYC in 1978 (I forget the radio call letters -- WQXR, maybe?), and they were stunning. Played by the Janacek Quartet, I believe. Have been a devout fan of all Janacek's music ever since.

I agree with everything you are saying I was introduced to him when I was 12 years old on a sunny afternoon blew my mind away.

I just love Janáčeks string quartets. There is no other set of string quartets that I listen to more often. And there's no way to listen to these works without a strong emotional reaction. I know very few modern chamber music as gripping as these with the exception of Arnold Schönbergs string trio and George Crumbs „Black Angels" quartet. The Pražák Quartet actually re-recorded the quartets in 2013. Both of their recordings are great and I can't decide which one I prefer. Though the 2nd recording is coupled with the composers concertino, another very fine chamber work. Thank you for your great video, I'm sure to check out the Panocha Quartets recording...

I am SO excited to watch this!!! Thanks David.

Thank you for your review, David. Your insight and enthusiasm renewed my love and high regard for these two SQs.

I just found a copy of the Janacek and the Talich Quartet versions. Stunned, I came here to get an overview. I have gatefold of the Panocha Quartet playing the Haydn Op.33 Quartets, that going on the turntable next. Thanks, Dave!

Just downloaded Prazak version from Bandcamp and it is wonderful. Thanks for the tip!

Bravo!

New Zeeland quartet on Naxos is my best. Frenzy in a gentle way and goes sweetly over the top. It’s feminine rather than masculine. Tempi are slow side, I guess, and details are clear. Superb recording. Fill-ups are lovely and candidates for the quasi-miniature masterpiece. Over 2 minutes. I feel intoxicated.

Thanks Dave I’m not arrogant enough to think that was for my benefit considering I only mentioned Janecek the other day in a comment to you but I definitely appreciate It and your commentary on them. I shall be giving them a bash on the headphones over the next few days

I had been getting familiar with these quartets via the Talich recording. Wonderful, of course. Yesterday, my copy of the Panocha arrived, and it was a different sound world from the first note. What full tone this quartet produces! I don't want to call it "rich," which would imply perhaps lots of vibrato. Just extremely clean and strong. Beyond that, the energy and urgency were astonishing. I do notice that with Janacek, at least in small ensembles, everyone is going to sound so much different from each other, as there is so much room for individual "interpretation."

Thanks for this, and for taking the time to go through any number of versions. Would love to put in a word for the Medici Quartet, particularly in the second quartet--and despite Nimbus' sometimes odd sound. (Also enjoy their Haydn Op.20...)

I'm very glad you mentioned Gabrieli's versions. I have them on Eloquence coupled with Suk's first quartet. Thank you for another great review.

My first exposure to these quartets was 20+ years ago, at a concert by the Emersons. I had no idea if they were idiomatic or sufficiently Czech-infused, but I was totally blown away by the mercurial nature of the music. I still wonder how Janacek's use of such fragmentary material somehow results in such compelling, melodic music. When you mentioned the coupling on one disc with Fairy Tale, I hoped you would pause to exult about this piece, which I think of as "improbably" beautiful. I mean that it's just a short, stand-alone piece for piano and cello. I wouldn't say it's Janacek's most beautiful music, but when I'm listening to it, I can't imagine what else would be! Gonna go right to my Talich recording of the Quartets before I turn in.

Great survey. It's the Pavel Haas Quartet all the way for me, especially in No. 1 which I think they do even with even more visceral expressive power than some of their finest Czech rivals, superbly played. I'm also very taken by the Pražák set I have (their second go at them).

Wait. Hold everything. That's your OVERFLOW ROOM???!!!

Thanks so much for your enthusiasm for the music. What's compulsory is not is this or that performance (though your advice is most useful -- I had the Talich, which I adore, but have now ordered the Prazak) but getting to know these unparalleled pieces, and making them part of one's life.

You are an amazing human being Mr. Hurwitz. Be carefull, I might start to love you :)

I agree with the point about native interpretations in general. But I also agree that this is definitely an exception where Czech groups are superior. For them, the pieces are not exotic colour for a break from Haydn, Beethoven, the Second Viennese School, Shostakovich and Bartok. For Czech musicians, this stuff is core repertoire. Not one single Czech quartet can hang out a shingle without having come to terms with these pieces.

My favourite recordings of these string quartets are by the Pavel Haas Quartet, which you barely mention.

i tend to agree...i have several czech vinyl versions of the string quartets....they vary somewhat in quality...but they are way better than most of the more recent recordings i got on cd from the library

I had to get the Schoenberg Quartet on Chandos, since I wanted another duplicate of Szymanowski's string quartets. The performances are gorgeous! Happy listening!

I have only the Jerusalem Quartet, coupled with Smetana's From My Life quartet. I love the album, but never thought to compare to other performances. But I like my other Pražák recordings, so I'll check that out. There aren't a lot of composers whose quartets I listen to without saying "WOW" sometimes. Brahms, Schoenberg and Bartok are all that I can think of, but I have listened only to major composers.

Dave, greetings from the Penal Colonies. I do not know Janacek's SQs well enough so I have ordered in a copy of the Gabrieli Quartet on your advice (with the bonus blue spine!).. Thanks for the tip - and i hope you are getting closer to plotting out a way to tackle the Bruckner Eighth! B

Very useful and interesting review. I cut my teeth on the original Janacek Quartet performances, and still prefer them to others I have heard. I listened to the Smetana live when they came to Tokyo, and really, these pieces are so powerfully emotional that they should almost be banned from public performance (almost...). I would like to point out the crazy names for the quartet ensembles you introduced as presented in the "Key moments" horizontal list under your description: "Albun Bear Qt", "Yanchek Qt", "Yanchez Qt", "Smith Qt", "Italic Qt", and "Pinocchio Qt", all intriguing groups that are new to me. KZfaq's voice recognition feature may stand a tweak or two...

Great video as always! I'm discovering new repetoire every day because of you! Also, could you maybe make a video talking about Myaskovsky some time?

There are quite a number of fascinating recordings by some French quartets, one of my favourites is a nearly 30 years old recording with the Quatuor Manfred, as well as a recent recording by the (purely female) Quatuor Zaide. Similar to the differences with orchestras, French quartets sound quite different from the German ones (Hagen, Petersen ...).

I'm of a big fan of Janacek's operas and orchestral music but I'm not familiar with his chamber music. I will be soon; thanks for the suggestions!

Hi Dave, First of all thank you so much for you wonderful reviews and recommendations. I first heard them only last week, and since than I've heard quite a few of them. Your reviews are not just entertaining and fun and smart, they're a great source of solace for me in these crazy times. So thank you first of all. Second, have you considered doing a review of recordings of brahms Deutsche requiem? It's his piece i love the most, there are several great recordings and I'd really like to hear you talk about this great work. I also think such a talk would be great for our troubled times, I think the reasons are obvious. I love the earthly feel of the piece and its emphasis on the remaining and on providing solace and consolation for them. This is the piece for me and I think it would be great for you to talk about recordings of it. Thanks again, and continue doing those great videos.

Thank you, David Hurwitz! I loved the Talich recordings. There are also arrangements of both string quartets for chamber orchestra. I wonder what you would say about the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra recording (Lawo, 2017), which I find excellent.

Thanks for being so unabashedly excited by these quartets. You've been around for a long time but your passion is wonderfully intact. What do you think about the Diotima Quartet's version of the 2nd with viola d'amore? There are different explanations about Janacek's change of mind (it didn't integrate well, it was an uncommon instrument, etc.). It does seem to create a different sound world in the second movement.

Hey! What do you think about Belcea Quartet's recording of the first one?

what is your opinion on the Melos performance (Harmonia Mundi)? It is the one I have and it is how I got to know - and love - this music.

Any thoughts on the Manderling, which also includes the version for Viola d'amore?

I have a CD of these Janacek quartets recorded by the Hagen Quartet in 1989 and issued on Newtone Classics. Is it the same recording, later issued on DG?

Many thanks for another great video Ms. Hurwitz. You just briefly mentioned the Pavel Haas quartet. Would you include them among great versions? Eagerly awaiting for your ideal Dvorak’s symphony set (especially the early ones).

I have the Takács Quartet disc with Janacek and Smetana quartets. Is it good?

Do I spot Dorati's Haydn opera series behind your left ear???

Did the Talich record them twice?

How would you compare Janacek's quartets with Smetana's?

Thanks for the recommendations! I always found Janacek’s quartets relatively straightforward, simple, and sentimental. They lack the rhythmic complexity, the texture, and the emotional multilayered medium of Brahms, Dvorak, or Schubert. Probably it’s time to review again :)