The String Quintets = Die Streichquintette = Les Quintettes À Cordes

The Budapest String Quartet, once described as the most famous chamber music ensemble in the world, recorded these Mozart string quintets for CBS Masterworks during the final years of their storied tenure. By the time this set was compiled and reissued in 1984 under catalog number M3P 39663, the ensemble had long established its reputation for a refined, balanced sound that favored structural clarity over overt Romantic expressiveness. They were joined by violist Walter Trampler, an esteemed chamber musician known for his rich tone and technical precision, to complete the quintet requirements for Mozart's compositions.

Mozart composed his six string quintets between 1773 and 1791, utilizing the addition of a second viola to create a deeper, more sonorous texture than a standard quartet. The recordings featured in this CBS release highlight the collaboration between a veteran quartet and an expert soloist. Upon release, these interpretations were regarded by critics as essential documentations of mid-twentieth-century American performance practice, reflecting the disciplined, intellectually rigorous approach that defined the Budapest String Quartet's legacy before their eventual retirement.