budget reissues of "live" Haydn String Quartets

​There are 4 volumes of these performances of Haydn String Quartets played by the Lindsays on ASV's budget Quicksilva line. They are all taken from live performances at "The Genius of Haydn" Festival in 1987. These are not to be confused with The Lindsays's later studio recordings, also for ASV.

These live versions contain all the benefits of live performances, with almost none of their potential drawbacks. In the former category, they are fresh, exciting, very involving and engaging. They are expertly played, with a wonderful sense of joyous spontaneity. You can tell this quartet loves this music. In the latter category, there is no audience noise and there are rarely any ensemble or playing mishaps. The only "fault" I hear is a slightly too close microphone placement, making the group sound a little forward, with just a touch of aggressiveness to the playing in fortissimo passages.

Listening to their later studio recordings, one immediately hears a more refined, relaxed and richly atmospheric sound. Yet, remarkably, The Lindsays continue to exhibit the same level of spontaneous freshness and joyousness in their playing. I actually prefer the later recordings for these reasons. However, having so much music, so well played, on these budget Quicksilvas, one cannot go wrong with them. We can hope that their later, studio recordings will become available at some point in a budget box set. Perhaps a reissue label such as Brilliant Classics might take up that project one day. Until then, these Quicksilvas provide much enjoyment.