Ramiro Arguello wrote: >I have all the String Quartets played by various ensembles. But somehow I >lost the middle and late quartets played by the Quartetto Italiano which >was for my taste the best. The Italians are a bit too *charming* and *polished* for my taste but if you like them why not pick them up? The Alban Berg recorded the cycle twice IIRC, I would choose any of them over the other ones you mention. IMO the Vermeer and the Alexander are not on a par with either one of the Berg recordings nor with the Italians. I would choose other cycles if I were to pick my favourites though. Philip