Steve Schwartz writes:

>This is my favorite string quartet, God help me.  I have several versions,
>including the Cleveland, the Guarnieri, and the Julliard. My favorite,
>however, is the Quartetto Italiano, if it's still available.

I believe that EMI recently re-issued the Italiano's recording of the
Ravel and Debussy String Quartets also having a quartet from Milhaud.

Overall, I'm skeptical of this group in the Ravel and particularly in
their cycle of the Beethoven String Quartets on Philips.  The ensemble
is well noted for its elegance and warmth, and I agree with those comments.
However, I find them short on drive and energy when it's most needed.  In
Beethoven, my view is that they make his music too 'user friendly'.

Don Satz
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