Every now and again, EMI releases some of the
Alban Berg Quartet's recordings of
Haydn's string quartets. This particular recording of
Haydn's Op. 33/3, plus the two quartets of Op. 77 and the Serenade, Op. 3/5, only nominally by
Haydn, was compiled from three different live performances: the Op. 33 from 1999, the Op. 77 from 1993, and the Op. 3 from 1994. But the different recording dates make no difference in the sound of the recordings, which is uniformly clear and warm. And the different dates certainly make no difference in the quality of the performances, which are uniformly excellent. Beyond its tremendous technical skill and ideal ensemble, the
Alban Berg Quartet superbly captures all the elements that make
Haydn Haydn: exquisitely lyrical melodies, vigorously rhythmic tempos, wonderfully wrought structures, and, above all, deep humanity. Even in the simple Serenade, the
Alban Berg Quartet's simplicity seems more sublime than straightforward, transforming a work that is likely not by
Haydn into a delicately lovely piece of ineffable beauty. Every now and again, EMI releases some of the
Alban Berg Quartet's
Haydn recordings, and every single time it's as good as it gets in this world.