Brahm's g- minor piano quartet

Gilels with Beethoven vs Budapest S.Q. vs the new recording on EMI (1-7-03) Vogt, Heimbach Chamber Music. The Vogt was recorded well and playing good, but too conservative for Butxers taste, I'm sure. Onto the Beethoven S.Q. with Gilels. the great Emils Gilels has a poetic touch and his piano has a beautiful tone to it, and the Beethoven Stings play well, the sound quality is poor due, like 1950's. But the pianist on the Budapest recording out plays Gelils in the 3rd movement opening, and not by alittle. And that most difficult passage to pull off right, in the opening 2nd movement, the Budapest takes slow vs the other 2, but definetly better's the other's faster attempt. Sound is poor on the Budapest (Bridge lable) due as well to year recorded, in the 50's. String sound on the recording is not near as good as the Vogt (EMI). But knowing Buxter, he's after performance vs sound quality.

You sure know your chamber music, yes Arthur Balsam. But like I say, I'm not happy with the very-difficult-to-pull-off opening to the 2nd movement. But better than the other 2 I've heard. Big turn off. Its like the Debussy/Ravel Quartets, if I hear too many "slips" at important junctures, I give up on it. As well the recording is poor, so holds back the overall performance. You may get a better sound on it with your system. You may want to wait a few more years til some new recording comes along.

Absolutely, you called it right on the difficulty on getting this composition to really dance. Every recording I've mentioned has some awkward moments. And your intuition is correct about this Bridge recording, the fiery piano part in the opening 3rd movement is taken much better by Balsam than the legendary Gilels, though the tone of Gilels piano is much better than Balsam's, and Gilels does have some a nice touch in other parts. You are like me, in that recording quality takes second place vs the more important performance of the artists.

No, not sure which recording, you're speaking of?? Are you recommending something here?