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 Fidelity’s assessment of the Budapest Quartet’s 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).CD 1String Quartet No. 1 in C minor op. 51/1String Quartet No. 2 in A minor op. 51/2CD 2String Quartet No. 3 in B-flat major op. 67Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartetin B minor op. 115David Oppenheim clarinetCD 3Quintet for 2 Violins, 2 Violas and Cello No. 1in F major op. 88Quintet for 2 Violins, 2 Violas and Cello No. 2in G major op. 111Walter Trampler violaCD 4Quintet for Piano, 2 Violins, Viola and Celloin F minor op. 34Rudolf Serkin pianoBudapest String QuartetJoseph Roisman violin · Alexander Schneider violinBoris Kroyt viola · Mischa Schneider cello
