Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
22 used & new from £13.14
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Available to Download Now
 
Buy the MP3 album for £13.99
  
 
 
 
Bartók: The String Quartets (2 CDs)
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images

Bartók: The String Quartets (2 CDs) [Box set]

~ Takács Quartet (Artist)
4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
Price: £25.39 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Only 2 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want guaranteed delivery by Tuesday, July 7? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
15 new from £15.03 6 used from £13.14 1 collectible from £20.00
Buy the MP3 album for £13.99 at the Amazon MP3 Downloads store.

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this with Beethoven: String Quartets ~ Ludwig van Beethoven

Bartók: The String Quartets (2 CDs) + Beethoven: String Quartets
Price For Both: £32.37

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: Bartók: The String Quartets (2 CDs) ~ Takács Quartet

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Beethoven: String Quartets ~ Ludwig van Beethoven

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Works of Igor Stravinsky [Box Set]

Works of Igor Stravinsky [Box Set]

~ Donald Gramm
4.9 out of 5 stars (21)  £17.99
Beethoven: String Quartets

Beethoven: String Quartets

~ Ludwig van Beethoven
5.0 out of 5 stars (4)  £6.98
Beethoven: String Quartets Vol.3

Beethoven: String Quartets Vol.3

~ Takács Quartet
4.8 out of 5 stars (4) 
Berg: The Alban Berg Collection

Berg: The Alban Berg Collection

~ Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
4.5 out of 5 stars (2)  £29.98
The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century

The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century

by Alex Ross
4.5 out of 5 stars (28)  £7.49
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Audio CD (16 Mar 1998)
  • SPARS Code: DDD
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Format: Box set
  • Label: Decca (UMO)
  • ASIN: B0000042GU
  • Other Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 11,455 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

    Popular in these categories:

    #3 in  Music > Classical Instrumental > Composers > A-B > Bartók
    #8 in  Music > Classical Instrumental > Chamber Music > String Quartets > 20th Century & Modern
    #25 in  Music > Classical Instrumental > Chamber Music > String Ensemble

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.


Disc 1:

Extraits
Song Title Time Price
Listen  1. String Quartet No.1, Sz. 40 (Op.7) - 1. Lento 9:14Album Only
Listen  2. String Quartet No.1, Sz. 40 (Op.7) - 2. Allegretto 8:06Album Only
Listen  3. String Quartet No.1, Sz. 40 (Op.7) - 3. Introduzione. Allegro - Allegro vivace10:55Album Only
Listen  4. String Quartet No.3, Sz. 85 - 1. Prima parte (Moderato) 4:50£0.79
Listen  5. String Quartet No.3, Sz. 85 - 2. Seconda parte (Allegro) 5:31£0.79
Listen  6. String Quartet No.3, Sz. 85 - 3. Ricapitolazione della prima parte (Moderato) 4:56£0.79
Listen  7. String Quartet No.5, Sz. 102 - 1. Allegro 7:28Album Only
Listen  8. String Quartet No.5, Sz. 102 - 2. Adagio molto 6:04£0.79
Listen  9. String Quartet No.5, Sz. 102 - 3. Scherzo 4:55£0.79
Listen10. String Quartet No.5, Sz. 102 - 4. Andante 4:49£0.79
Listen11. String Quartet No.5, Sz. 102 - 5. Finale 6:53£0.79


Disc 2:

Extraits
Song Title Time Price
Listen  1. String Quartet No.2, Sz. 67 (Op.17) - 1. Moderato 9:41Album Only
Listen  2. String Quartet No.2, Sz. 67 (Op.17) - 2. Allegro molto capriccioso 7:15Album Only
Listen  3. String Quartet No.2, Sz. 67 (Op.17) - 3. Lento 8:45Album Only
Listen  4. String Quartet No.4, Sz. 91 - 1. Allegro 5:56£0.79
Listen  5. String Quartet No.4, Sz. 91 - 2. Prestissimo, con sordino 2:39£0.79
Listen  6. String Quartet No.4, Sz. 91 - 3. Non troppo lento 5:27£0.79
Listen  7. String Quartet No.4, Sz. 91 - 4. Allegretto pizzicato 2:36£0.79
Listen  8. String Quartet No.4, Sz. 91 - 5. Allegro molto 5:32£0.79
Listen  9. String Quartet No.6, Sz. 114 - 1. Mesto - Vivace 7:12Album Only
Listen10. String Quartet No.6, Sz. 114 - 2. Mesto - Marcia 7:45Album Only
Listen11. String Quartet No.6, Sz. 114 - 3. Mesto - Burletta (Moderato) 7:20Album Only
Listen12. String Quartet No.6, Sz. 114 - 4. Mesto 6:53£0.79

On this CD:
  1. String Quartet No. 1
    Composed by Béla Bartók

  2. String Quartet No. 2
    Composed by Béla Bartók

  3. String Quartet No. 3
    Composed by Béla Bartók

  4. String Quartet No. 4
    Composed by Béla Bartók

  5. String Quartet No. 5
    Composed by Béla Bartók

  6. String Quartet No. 6
    Composed by Béla Bartók

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
chamber music
bartok
bartok string quartets
music
listen ot this
classical music
bela bartok
20th century classical

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF THESE STAGGERING COMPOSITIONS, 9 Oct 2002
By J. C. Bailey (East Sussex United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
The wonderful thing about Bartok’s six string quartets is that they are simultaneously integral and distinct: They were written in very different circumstances, each embodying a quite specific real-life situation for the composer and a particular phase in his musical ambitions. And yet for this very reason, taken collectively, they chart and encapsulate Bartok’s whole life and career – ranging full circle from simple romanticism to vibrant experimentalism and back in the end to lush tonality. Thus they almost belong together in a set rather than as individual recordings.

This recent digital recording by the Takacs Quartet is quite outstanding in both musical and engineering terms. The Takacs is particularly successful in bringing out the intended “gypsy” inflections in many of the movements – an area in which otherwise fine interpeters of other nationalities have lacked the full cultural immersion necessary to do proper justice to such an important strand in Bartok’s staggering musical vision.

None of these quartets is “easy listening” – even the more traditionally structured compositions make considerable demands of the listener – but in the long term they amply repay any amount of effort invested in exploring their inexhaustible depths.

By the same token, the quartets are probably not the best introduction to Bartok’s work for the beginner. A good place to start is the remarkable “Concerto for Orchestra” from his mellow final period, followed perhaps by some of the music for a larger ensemble, such as his “Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta”. But as soon as you feel ready to face a challenging but beautiful exploration into the heart of the greatest composer of the twentieth century, the quartets are waiting. And the Takacs set could hardly be bettered.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars And to think... I was sold to it by the cover!, 14 Feb 2002
I purchased this CD about a year ago during a period of BARTOK exploration. To say that i loved the CD after listening to it for the first time would be an understatement; i was absolutely blown away!!! I have never before or since felt so completely and utterly pleased with any of my musical purchases. On every level the music is the most finely crafted musical WORK OF ART i have ever laid my ears upon.

As compositions they truely are incredible. To those of you who normallly shy away from non-tonal music (which of course there will be very few, having clicked on Bartok in the first place) LISTEN TO THIS!!! You will be converted! These peices are a composer gripped with incredible passion. There is not a contrived, cold or dull moment in the entire 2 and a half hours of listening to these discs. His attention to the most small of details, subtle qualities and potential of all four instruments is unsurpassed.

The performance is equally as incredible. These four instrumentalists play technically and emotionally in ways and to extremes that i never thought possible (credit as much to the composer as to the performers.) They play with vigour, speed, delicacy and charged emotion. Their minds are tuned into one another in a way that i have never heard or felt before; they become ONE incredible voice. They obviously know the music backwards (probably born with it, and together.)

My extensive knowledge on other performances of these works i can sum up simply by telling you that i have spent many hours under shop headphones in pursuit of the BEST (if it were at all possible to better it.) But from whatever way i looked at them i couldn't beat this one. And to think... that i was sold to it by the cover!

As far as the recording goes that too is perfect. Crisp, warm and perfectly balanced on any speaker... and i have personally put it through a vigourous testing schedule; anyone who is even remotely conected to me and has a cd and speaker system of any shape, size or quality has undergone the entire "BARTOK 6 STRING QUARTETS EXPERIENCE." To say that everyone was one over by my intense BARTOK grinding sessions would be a lie, but one thing is for sure... they have never heard anything in quite the same way since.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars energy and warmth, 12 Aug 2002
By tony (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
If you are unused to listening to music of this sort this CD is a wonderful way to enter deeper into a beautiful musical world. The playing seems to me faultless and its intensity staggering. The contrasts between the energetic and sometimes strident sections and the delicately ethereal backdrops are marvellously reproduced and at times it's fascinating to hear the distinctive Hungarian folk harmonies portrayed with such naturalness by these immensely talented musicians. You might gather I recommend it!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Overrated
This recent recording by the Takacs Quartet is very impressive technically but for me fails to get to the heart of these elusive quartets. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Geoff

5.0 out of 5 stars mind blowing stuff
Just listened to my recently delivered recording of these masterpieces. My God! This is the most intense and passionate music I think I've ever heard. Read more
Published 16 months ago by A. Browne

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF STAGGERING COMPOSITIONS
The wonderful thing about Bartok's six string quartets is that they are simultaneously integral and distinct: They were written in very different circumstances, each embodying a... Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2002 by J. C. Bailey

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Bartók: The String Quartets (2 CDs)
58% buy the item featured on this page:
Bartók: The String Quartets (2 CDs) 4.7 out of 5 stars (6)
£25.39
String Quartets 1 - 6 (Keller Quartet)
23% buy
String Quartets 1 - 6 (Keller Quartet) 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
£5.98
Debussy, Dutilleux, Ravel: String Quartets
6% buy
Debussy, Dutilleux, Ravel: String Quartets 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£5.78
Bartok - String Quartets Complete
6% buy
Bartok - String Quartets Complete 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£12.69
Explore similar items

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject




i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Fun for Everyone

Christmas Gifts
Achieve over 15,000 RPM with our great range of Powerballs.

›Shop the Powerball store

  

Let Olay Amaze You

Olay Total Effects Day Moisturiser SPF15 50ml
Amazon.co.uk sells all your favourite ranges from Olay, including Regenerist and Total Effects.

›Discover Olay at Amazon.co.uk

  

We've Got Converse

Converse
Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates