VEGH QUARTET Kodály & Smetana: String Quartets (1954) - PACM061

This album is included in the following sets:

VEGH QUARTET Kodály & Smetana: String Quartets (1954) - PACM061

Regular price €0.00 €15.00 Sale

CDs are produced to order and are normally shipped within 3-5 working days.

Regular price €0.00 €10.00 Sale

  • Sold Out! - CD with case & artwork (+MP3)

Overview

KODÁLY String Quartet No. 2, Op. 10

SMETANA String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, "From My Life"
Recorded 27-31 July 1953, West Hampstead Studios, London
Total duration: 46:25

Vegh Quartet


This set contains the following albums:

The Vegh Quartet play Czech Quartets

XR-Remastered for finest sound quality


This recording was originally presented to Pristine Classical by Dr. John Duffy for inclusion in our Pristine Exclusives streamed audio service playlist. A fine recording, it had won great plaudits upon its release in 1954, and was double-starred in the 1955 issue of The Record Guide, their highest accolade.

However, time moves on, and I felt that the original sound was perhaps somewhat veiled and might benefit from a little XR remastering. I quickly put together a rough remastering and sent this across the Internet to Dr. Duffy. The title of his response - "Revelation" - says it all, and I decided this recording really merited a full release.

Taking Dr. Duffy's transfer as my source, I then proceeded to produce a full XR Ambient Stereo master. This proved more time-consuming than I had expected - not only did the high-precision re-equalisation lift a veil from the performers, it also exposed the inevitable weaknesses in the medium - mid-50's vinyl, which then required further restoration over and above that which Dr. Duffy had already so expertly dealt with.

The result, I feel, is a triumph - both musically and in performance - and also as a joint restoration effort. Decca's reputation for high quality recordings was rightly lauded, and this is an excellent example of that. Very highly recommended recordings of some little-known but excellent chamber music.

Andrew Rose

    KODÁLY String Quartet No. 2, Op. 10

      SMETANA String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, "From My Life"
      Recorded 27-31 July 1953, West Hampstead Studios, London
      Issued as Decca LXT2876
      Transfer and restoration from US London LP LL-865 by Dr. John Duffy
      Additional XR remastering by Andrew Rose at Pristine Audio, October 2008
      Cover artwork based on a photograph of Zoltán Kodály
      Total duration: 46:25

      Vegh Quartet:
      Sándor Végh, violin
      Sándor Zöldy, violin
      Georges Janzer, viola
      Paul Szabo, cello