Streaming the Classics: The Top Ten String Quartet ensembles

This Streaming the Classics is a little different. It’s a top-ten performing group, not a specific piece or group of works. This time, my favourite string quartet groups. As such, each ensemble will have many recordings available on Apple Music, Qobuz and Tidal HiFi for you to stream in at least CD Red Book quality.

String quartets. Ah, the stories are legendary. Titillating tales of contract disputes, intrigue, jealousy, sex, and even a recent attempted murder investigation. The reporting of infamous public breakups makes the Beatles’ breakup look like child’s play. Seems the closeness and musical intimacy of the string quartet over a long time can cause problems. Yet, some have managed to stay together for decades and produce glorious results.

The following ten are my favourites and I have them in order. A few, like the first on my list, raised the standards of quartet playing impossibly high. Recorded quality? Well, three are mostly mono. But, don’t let that fool you. Each of these quartets have dozens of recordings of the very best quality.

“Why isn’t my favourite group listed”, you say,

For several reasons, possibly. As a musician, I have many weaknesses, but intonation—recognizing perfect and imperfect examples of such—is not one of them. Thus, a few quartets I eliminated that continually allowed dodgy intonation to appear on their recordings. Others had more personnel changes than was good for them. The listed ten had/have great longevity and were comparatively stable in membership. You’ll notice mostly Continental and US quartets. I have my reasons. There are good Australian, Canadian, French, Israeli, Spanish and even English quartets playing before the public. But, they didn’t make my top ten. Maybe yours. Please list your favourites in the comments below. Thanks.

Recently, I forgot to put a smiley face on a Facebook post about the imperative use of string quartet recordings by any audio reviewer of repute. The pushback was swift and unmusical. Too harsh? Let’s be charitable and say “musically naive”. My answer was not about the classical repertoire, but more about a quartet’s unique communication. My response: “It’s not about the music or repertoire, although, I adore it and agree with many professional musicians that it’s the purest form of musical communication, it’s about the intimate musical intent, the musical discussion, the balance of the string tessituras, the timbres, and a million other things.”

On purely musical grounds, I believe the string quartet is an incredibly personal form with which I connect most immersively with classical music, but as an audio reviewer, the following quartets are well nigh perfect in relaying important reviewer information.

So, I believe these are the greatest 10 quartet ensembles in recorded history and are in my order of preference:

The Alban Berg Quartett (1970-2003). Austria. Two seminal sets of Beethoven quartets, the earlier of which sold over a million units. An unheard of number in the classical music business. From 1970, they set the modern standards for string quartet playing. Flawless intonation, technical brilliance and supreme musicianship. Classical repertoire or modern, their recording is usually at or near the top. Check out my recent review of the pictured new box set.

The Quartetto Italiano (1945–1980). Italy. Almost 35 years producing the most glorious, homogenous sound. Their famous recording of the Debussy/Ravel is my gold standard but they were equally fine in all the great quartet cycles. By the time ABQ formed, they were 25 years in and had already begun the technical and musical perfection standards ABQ built upon.

The Amadeus Quartet (1947–1987). Austria/England. Forty years at the top of their game and perennial favourites of Deutsche Gramaphon. No personnel changes over the 40 years! Trained for free by the great Max Rostal. Dip into any recording and you’ll get beautifully realized and played standard classical repertoire. The group never let themselves drop below a lofty standard.

Funny story about standards. Well, not funny at the time for the hapless violinist. Actually, the fellow was a very fine violinist who simply had a bad day. I was the student tasked with accompanying Norbert Brainin, the Amadeus’ first violinist, around for the day while he was adjudicating a violin competition at Trinity College of Music, London. At the end of the day, his comment sheets were left unsealed and I had to take them to the college registrar. Standards? All he wrote on the top of the pile adjudication form for the poor violinist in question was “completely incompetent in every way, shape and form!”.

The Budapest String Quartet (1917 to 1967). Hungary. Sure, you’re telling yourself how many changes Budapest had and therefore should not be on my list. Yes. But it was fairly stable for the bulk of their great recording legacy in the ‘40s and ‘50s. And what recordings they are. Mono or stereo, you are getting the very best in ensemble playing with beautiful interpretations of classical repertoire.

The Tokyo String Quartet (1969 to 2013). Japan. You’re thinking the same thing as the Budapest. The number of personnel changes. Again, for sure. But from 1969 to 1981, a very stable four. And they recorded some of my favourite string quartet repertoire. Look for their Haydn Prussian Quartets, specifically. Absolutely brilliant musicianship. This is not to say the plethora of Canadian first violin replacements from 1981 on are not excellent. They are, but I love the original group.

The Melos Quartet (1965 to 2005). Germany. When founded in 1965, they went under the name Melos Quartett, Stuttgart to differentiate themselves from the famous music group of the same name based in London. Many fine recordings for DG of all the string quartet repertoire—over 120 quartets in their repertoire. Technical perfection, vibrant interpretations with flawless intonation shaped the group’s many live performances. And only one personnel change (2nd violin) in a forty year career.

Formed while studying at Curtis in 2008, this fabulous young American quartet is my favourite now appearing before the public. They have a few recordings on the wonderful Cedille label and are in the midst of a modern, benchmark Beethoven cycle. Tremendous personality coupled with technical perfection both live and on record.

Another great quartet with many personnel changes over the years simply because of the group’s longevity. Founded in 1946 at Juilliard, the quartet is still active today. The group to listen for is the one photographed above, with the leader Robert Mann and three powerful, likeminded individuals. The 1956-1966 recordings highlight some of the most famous quartet recordings in existence including the Ravel & Debussy quartets and one of the best Bartók cycles.

The Emerson Quartet was founded in 1976 from students at Juilliard and only recently disbanded, with only one change in personnel, the cellist (2012). A long time contract at DG with many recordings highlighting the group’s technical prowess has made the Emerson Quartet the preeminent American quartet. Along with ABQ, probably the most technically gifted string quartet.

The Végh Quartet (1940 to 1980). Hungary. Led by the great violinist Sándor Végh for 40 years, the group was based in Budapest until it left Hungary in 1946. It recorded my particular favourite Beethoven cycle (mono 1952). They recorded it again in stereo in the ‘70s. Also known for their superb Schubert and particularly known for their recordings and close association with Béla Bartók.

On a different day, a few others may have made the list. All of these are superb ensembles with many fine recordings. They include Busch, Jerusalem, Takács, Talich, Hagen, LaSalle, Guarneri and others. With quartets, we do have an embarrassment of riches. Please add your favourites in the comments below.