Schubert: The Last Four Quartets Quartetto Italiano Philips Duo 2cd's
Sorry dhibbard! ;D For my money,these have got to be amongst the loveliest and most sublime of all String Quartets. And that goes for most of,if not all of his chamber music. If you find Chamber music a bit difficult to grasp (as opposed to indifferent or hate it!) his String Quartet No 14 "Death & the Maiden" & String Quartet No 13 "Rosamunde" are two of the most lyrical,tuneful & thereby,most readily approachable/accessible. Indeed,even if you prefer,or only listen to,orchestral music by composers,from this era,you will know the tune in No 14 (and the name!). Indeed,his Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667,popularly known as the "Trout Quintet",is very probably the most tuneful piece of chamber music ever composed. It's just movement after movement of lovely,hummable tunes! When I was young it was,indeed,the only piece of chamber music I liked,thanks to my grandparent's radiogram and collection of Lp's. The Trout Quintet was on a thick old 50's Lp (like a black dinner plate with grooves! A 10 inch-er,I believe?! And that's it,below) and the musicians were Members of the Vienna Octet. I also remember that the "waltz man",Willi Boskovsky,who became famous for his conducting of Johann Strauss II,played the violin on it!
NB: I would make these images a bit smaller,but I have to listen out for a delivery van!
