This album is included in the following sets:
This set contains the following albums:
- Producer's Note
- Full Track Listing
- Cover Art
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
VEGH QUARTET Kodály & Smetana: String Quartets (1954)
KODÁLY String Quartet No. 2, Op. 10
1. I. Allegro (5:40)
2. II. Andante quasi recitative — Andante con moto — Allegro giocoso (11:06)
SMETANA String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, "From My Life"
3. I. Allegro vivo appassionato (8:14)
4. II. Allegro moderato à la polka (5:26)
5. III. Largo sostenuto (9:50)
6. IV. Vivace (6:09)
Tracks 1–6:
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
