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