Pražák Quartet -  Ludwig van Beethoven - String Quartets Vol 4  - Praga Digitals PRD/DSD 250 199 (2004)
SACD rip via PS3 to iso (2.98GB) | 24bit/88.2kHz flac | Mch (2.32GB) (+6dB gain) | 2ch (884MB) DR14 (+6dB gain) | Classical


The Pražák Quartet is a Czech string quartet established in 1972. It is 1 of the Czech Republic's premiere chamber ensembles. It was founded while its members were still students at Prague Conservatory. The Pražák Quartet is a finely balanced ensemble that plays with unassuming perfection accompanied by a sense of unerring authority.
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A diptych (1809-1810) of Goethean mood, the opus 74 with its heroic tone contemporary with the 'Emperor' piano concerto, the opus 95 with its final deriving its triumph willpower from Egmont ouverture, while the general surroundings are rather bitter. The Pražák give without consideration the moments of heartache as those of tenderness, of vehemence as of melancholy, eventually of serenity when 'a divine hand lays on peace over a burning forehead'. 

AllMusic:
For some, Beethoven's string quartets may seem over-performed & recorded too often, & the appearance of yet another recording may elicit only a tepid response, if not outright dismissal. But the truly jaded listeners need to give this splendid disc a try, for the Prazák Quartet offers an amazing musical experience & makes this familiar repertoire sound new, urgent, & genuinely exciting. Vol. 4 of the ensemble's recordings of Beethoven's quartets pairs 2 middle works, the String Quartet #10 in E flat major ("Harp") & the String Quartet #11 in F minor ("Serioso"). Both pieces are masterfully rendered, with wonderful cohesion, great sonic depth, & riveting energy, & the Prázak's interpretations are as intellectually coherent as they are emotionally compelling. Best of all, the group's sound is almost orchestral in its nuanced timbres & powerful massed sonorities, & the players' technical resources are fully exercised to provide the widest possible range of string colours. The Prazák is clearly a quartet for the digital age, & 1 that is well served by DSD recording. Hearing this superb ensemble in any format would be a pleasure, but Praga's hybrid SACD makes the experience all the more enjoyable. The musicians are captured with lifelike presence & the acoustics are naturally resonant. 

Other review:
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=86065

      Tracks:

#10 Op.74(Harp) & #11 Op.95

01-STRING QUARTET Op.74 - First Movement - Poco adagio - allegro
02-STRING QUARTET Op.74 - Second Movement - Adagio ma non troppo
03-STRING QUARTET Op.74 - Third Movement - Presto - attaca
04-STRING QUARTET Op.74 - Fourth Movement -  Allegretto con variazioni

05-STRING QUARTET Op.95 - First movement - Allegro con brio
06-STRING QUARTET Op.95 - Second Movement -  Allegretto ma non troppo
07-STRING QUARTET Op.95 - Third Movement - Allegro assai vivace ma serioso
08-STRING QUARTET Op.95 - Fourth Movement - Larghetto espressivo - allegro agitato

      Time: 51:55

      Musicians:

Pražák Quartet

Václav Remes, violin
Vlastimil Holek, violin
Josef Kluson, viola
Michal Kanka, cello


http://www.filefactory.com/folder/67a74676e61816c7
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Checksum for iso:
ee4aba552c10a76f0e9d002181b2b712 *PRAZAK QUARTET - BEETHOVEN - String Quartets 10 Op.74.iso