Die Frühen Streichquartette / The Early Strings Quartets / Les Premiers Quatuors à Cordes

Released in 1977 as part of Deutsche Grammophon's extensive retrospective documentation of Mozart's chamber music, this box set features the Amadeus-Quartett performing the composer's early string quartets. The collection was curated during a period when the label was focused on definitive, high-fidelity recordings of classical canons, aiming to showcase the ensemble's characteristic precision and cohesive, polished interpretation of the Viennese style.

The Amadeus-Quartett, led by Norbert Brainin, was highly regarded for its longevity and technical refinement. Their approach to these early quartets—often influenced by the Italian sinfonia style and the innovations of Haydn—was intended to balance clarity with a lyrical, expressive warmth. The set remains a noted artifact of mid-20th-century performance practice, reflecting the aesthetic sensibilities of a generation of musicians who prioritized structural elegance and tonal beauty in their approach to the Mozartian repertoire.