Among the top performers of
Béla Bartók's six string quartets, the
Emerson String Quartet has had few rivals, and it is perhaps only matched in technical prowess and expressive clarity by the
Takács String Quartet in its 1998 recordings on London, and historically, by the
Juilliard String Quartet in its legendary 1963 cycle for Columbia. While the
Takács may be more heated in its folk-like expressions and fiery rhythms, and the
Juilliard more coolly classical in tone and execution, the
Emerson takes a legitimate position between the two: there is room for some flexibility in
Bartók, and to the extent that the
Emerson gives a balanced presentation of the composer's impulses and aesthetics, the interpretations are effective and feel authentic without ever falling into clichés. The
Emerson's award-winning 1988 set presents the works three to a disc, with odd-numbered quartets on the first and even-numbered on the second, to fit easily on two CDs without the break that a sequential order causes. Deutsche Grammophon's recording technology has been improved over the years since these recordings were made, but the sound is still terrific for late-'80s digital quality, though the slightly dry ambience may not be to everyone's taste.