BUDAPEST STRING QUARTET PLAYS BRAHMS (4 CDS)

The Budapest String Quartet was American Columbia's premier quartet in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1963 the foursome revisited the three Brahms quartets, which they had recorded triumphantly in the 78 era. Imperious, vibrantly expressive yet finely classical way, was High Fidelitys assessment of the Budapest Quartets way with Brahms, calling the stereo versions of the quartets a heart-warming release in every respect. In this new reissue, these are coupled on two albums with the benchmark Budapest recording of the Piano Quintet with Rudolf Serkin (One of those remarkable moments when top-flight artists are at a peak of inspiration. This is a noble rendition monumental in scope, intellectually conceived, charged with scorching emotional intensity. It is Brahms-playing in the greatest tradition High Fidelity).

Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34
Brahms: String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51 No. 1
Brahms: String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51 No. 2
Brahms: String Quartet No. 3 in B flat major, Op. 67
Brahms: String Quintet No. 1 in F major, Op. 88