Classics of the Phonograph

The Budapest String Quartet in the 1940s: Its Golden Age?

 
Black and white photo of string quartet

The Budapest String Quartet. Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The Budapest String Quartet was one of the outstanding string quartets of the 20th century. In its 50 year span, it made many recordings, with a variety of musicians. The period beginning in 1940, after the members settled in America, marked their association with Columbia Records, and the monaural records which they made for Columbia in the following decade are generally regarded as their golden age. On Saturday at 11, we will sample Beethoven recordings made by the Quartet in the 1940s.