Recommended Gesamtaufnahme

Although the extremely self-critical Schubert did not think much of his youth quartets, these are anything but negligible. Although they are strongly applied to Mozart and Haydn, but Schubert's melodic richness, its propensity for Tänzerische, its harmonious diversity can be felt from the very beginning. In addition a quasi orchestral treatment of the string quartet, which differentiates it from its predecessors. The three great masterpieces (A minor D804, D minor and G major D.810 D.887), as well as the Quartet Movement in C minor D.703, do have a very different claim, but the first 11 for the family Ensemble (of which a very respectable and successful amateur orchestra went out) composed works have much to offer.

The Stuttgart Melos Quartet, in de 70's showpiece Deutsche Grammophon (as Alban Berg for EMI or the Quartetto Italiano for Philips) has recorded a careful complete recording. When first they played for the Complete Edition, and not by the vocal material that often, especially for the early quartets, was faulty (wrong dynamics or phrasing statements to the exposure systematically conformed Reprise etc ...). This is therefore the first philological untouchable total intake.

Interpretatively it is at the same level. The technically extremely difficult first quartets are presented with a lot of love, which for example, is expressed in the delicate differentiation of reps with, inter alia, delicate ornaments. In the great works they can draw on unlimited resources. Your interpretation of D.887 is not clouded but impresses with clear contours (sadly lacking here the repetition of the exposition in the first movement) in D.810 and D.804 Combine classic clarity with romantic expressiveness, which is particularly suited D.804 gets.
Only now and then in the early quartets (D.18 where the introductory Andante is almost an Adagio, the initial set of D.87 ...) are the Swabians a bit too moody and somewhat Viennese ease would do them good.

Since the release of this recording two more remarkable complete recordings have appeared (with the Kodaly Quartet at Naxos from single-CDs and the Leipzig String Quartet in MDG). Between these three to choose "best" would be no good. It remains the choice of each flavor.

Another note: in the original LP issue was in classical D.87 the Scherzo third and not as in the second edition. In the track list here above and in the booklet it is so indicated (the unsubstantiated statement, the traditional order is a high-handedness of the publisher). The Scherzo is on my CD actually in second place, which makes a lot more sense between the Allegro (here molto) moderato and the Adagio.

Conclusion: If you have no complete recording of Schubert's string quartets, you are spoiled for choice. This one is quite recommendable.