Bela Bartok & Tatrai Quartet - String Quartets Nos 1-6 Divertimento (1992)

The inclusion of a fine performance of the Divertimento composed just before the 6th Quartet is a welcome bonus on this set. The recordings date from 1966 (quartets) and 1964 (Divertimento, Hungarian Chamber Orchestra led by Vilmos Tátrai), and they sound very good, though dry compared with the excellent Takacs recording, which is justly regarded as one of the finest chamber music recordings yet made. Among the three I would recommend Takacs for those getting to know the music and wanting a 'best' recording performance, sound, the whole ball of wax. Otherwise, one can't go wrong with any of these (the Vegh set being a personal favorite), and the inclusion of the Divertimento makes this Tátrai recording a very attractive choice.

Alright, where that reviewer does state that the Takacs recording of this program might be the all-around best given all factors, this set here might be the more authenthic representative of Bartók's works. And, you do get the Divertimento as a most welcomed bonus with this release.

Tracklist:
CD 1
String Quartet No. 1 in A minor, Sz. 40, BB 52 (Op. 7)
01 Bartók: String Quartet No. 1, BB 52 (Op. 7): I. Lento
02 Bartók: String Quartet No. 1, BB 52 (Op. 7): II. Allegretto
03 Bartók: String Quartet No. 1, BB 52 (Op. 7): (Introduzionel) Allegro
04 Bartók: String Quartet No. 1, BB 52 (Op. 7): III. Allegro vivace
String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Sz. 67, BB 75 (Op. 17)
05 Bartók: String Quartet No. 2, BB 75 (Op. 17): I. Moderato
06 Bartók: String Quartet No. 2, BB 75 (Op. 17): II. Allegro molto capriccioso
07 Bartók: String Quartet No. 2, BB 75 (Op. 17): III. Lento
String Quartet No. 3 in C sharp major, Sz. 85, BB 93
08 Bartók: String Quartet No. 3, BB 93: Prima parte: Moderato
09 Bartók: String Quartet No. 3, BB 93: Seconda parte: Allegro
10 Bartók: String Quartet No. 3, BB 93: Recapitulazione della prima parte: Moderato
11 Bartók: String Quartet No. 3, BB 93: Coda: Allegro molto


CD 2
String Quartet No. 4 in C major, Sz. 91, BB 95
01 Bartók: String Quartet No. 4, BB 95: I. Allegro
02 Bartók: String Quartet No. 4, BB 95: II. Prestissimo, con sordino
03 Bartók: String Quartet No. 4, BB 95: III. Non troppo lento
04 Bartók: String Quartet No. 4, BB 95: IV. Allegretto pizzicato
05 Bartók: String Quartet No. 4, BB 95: V. Allegro molto
String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major, Sz. 102, BB 110
06 Bartók: String Quartet No. 5, BB 110: I. Allegro
07 Bartók: String Quartet No. 5, BB 110: II. Adagio molto
08 Bartók: String Quartet No. 5, BB 110: III. Scherzo. Alla bulgarese (Vivace)
09 Bartók: String Quartet No. 5, BB 110: IV. Andante
10 Bartók: String Quartet No. 5, BB 110: V. Finale. Allegro vivace


CD 3
String Quartet No. 6 in D major, Sz. 114, BB 119
01 Bartók: String Quartet No. 6, BB 119: I. Mesto - Piu mosso, pesante - Vivace
02 Bartók: String Quartet No. 6, BB 119: II. Mesto - Marcia
03 Bartók: String Quartet No. 6, BB 119: III. Mesto - Burletta. Moderato
04 Bartók: String Quartet No. 6, BB 119: IV. Mesto
Divertimento for string orchestra, Sz. 113, BB 118
05 Bartók: Divertimento, BB 118: I. Allegro non troppo
06 Bartók: Divertimento, BB 118: II. Molto adagio
07 Bartók: Divertimento, BB 118: III. Allegro assai