Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13, Op. 130 / Grosse Fugue, Op. 133

On this CD:

1. String Quartet No. 13 in B flat major ("Lieb"), Op. 130
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Taneyev Quartet

2. Fugue for string quartet in B flat major ("Grosse Fuge"), Op. 133
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Taneyev Quartet

Tracks:

Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: I: Allegro Con Brio - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: II: Adagio Affettuoso Ed Appassionato - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: III: Scherzo (Allegro Molto) & Trio - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: IV: Allegro - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 59 No. 1 In F Major 'Rasumovsky': I: Allegro - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 59 No. 1 In F Major 'Rasumovsky': II: Allegretto Vivace E Sempre Scherzando - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 59 No. 1 In F Major 'Rasumovsky': III: Adagio molto e mesto : IV: Allegro (Th russe) - Alban Berg Quartett

Tracks:

Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: I: Allegro - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: II: Adagio cantabile - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: III: Scherzo (Allegro) & Trio - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: IV: Allegro molto, quasi presto - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 6 In B Flat Major: I: Allegro con brio - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 6 In B Flat Major: II: Adagio, ma non troppo - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 6 In B Flat Major: III: Scherzo (Allegro) & Trio - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 6 In B Flat Major: IV: Adagio (La Malinconia) - Allegretto quasi Allegro - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 135 In F Major: I: Allegretto - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 135 In F Major: II: Vivace - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 135 In F Major: III: Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 135 In F Major: IV: Grave, ma non troppo tratto - Allegro - Alban Berg Quartett

Tracks:

Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: I. Allegro
Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: II. Andante con moto
III. Allegro
Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: IV. Presto
Op. 18 No. 5 in A Major: I. Allegro
Op. 18 No. 5 in A Major: II. Menuetto & Trio
Op. 18 No. 5 in A Major: III. Andante cantabile
Op. 18 No. 5 in A Major: IV. Allegro
Op. 95 In F Minor: I. Allegro con brio
Op. 95 In F Minor: II. Allegretto ma non troppo
Op. 95 In F Minor: III: Allegro assai vivace, ma serioso

Tracks:

Op. 18 No. 4 In C Minor: I. Allegro ma non tanto
Op. 18 No. 4 In C Minor: II. Scherzo (Andante scherzoso quasi Allegretto)
Op. 18 No. 4 In C Minor: III. Menuetto (Allegretto) & Trio
Op. 18 No. 4 In C Minor: IV. Allegro
Op. 130 in B flat Major: I. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro
Op. 130 in B flat Major: II. Presto
Op. 130 in B flat Major: III. Andante con moto, ma non troppo
Op. 130 in B flat Major: IV. Alla danza tedesca (Allegro assai)
Op. 130 in B flat Major: V Cavatina (Adagio molto espressivo)
Grosse Fuge In B Flat Major, Op. 133
Op. 130 in B flat Major: VI. Finale (Allegro)

Tracks:

Op. 59 No. 2 In E Minor 'Rasumovsky': I: Allegro
Op. 59 No. 2 In E Minor 'Rasumovsky': II: Molto Allegro
Op. 59 No. 2 In E Minor 'Rasumovsky': III: Allegretto
Op. 59 No. 2 In E Minor 'Rasumovsky': IV: Finale (Presto)
Op. 127 In E Flat Major: I: Maaestoso - Allegro
Op. 127 In E Flat Major: II: Adagio ma non troppo, molto cantabile
Op. 127 In E Flat Major: III: Scherzando vivace
Op. 127 In E Flat Major: IV: Finale

Tracks:

Op. 59 No. 3 In C Major 'Rasumovsky': I: Introduzione (Andante con moto) - Allegro vivace
Op. 59 No. 3 In C Major 'Rasumovsky': II: Andante con moto quasi allegretto
Op. 59 No. 3 In C Major 'Rasumovsky': III: Menuetto (Grazioso) & Trio
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: I: Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: II: Allegro molto vivace
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: III: Allegro moderato
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: IV: Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: V: Presto
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: VI: Adagio quasi un poco andante
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: VI: Adagio quasi un poco andante

Tracks:

Op. 74 In E Flat Major 'Harp': I Poco adagio - Allegro - Beethoven
Op. 74 In E Flat Major 'Harp': II. Adagio ma non troppo - Beethoven
Op. 74 In E Flat Major 'Harp': III. Presto - Beethoven
Op. 74 In E Flat Major 'Harp': IV: Allegretto con Variazioni - Beethoven
Op.132 In A Minor: I: Allegro sostenuto - Allegro - Beethoven
Op.132 In A Minor: II: Allegro ma non tanto - Beethoven
Op.132 In A Minor: III: Molto adagio - Beethoven
Op.132 In A Minor: IV: Alla marcia, assai vivace - Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful Beethoven cycle.......2007-06-18

This is a fine recording, remastered for the reissue. Intelligent, driving, finely played. Excellent musicianship. Buy it. You won't be sorry you did.

A LONG TIME COMING AT THIS PRICE .......2007-06-02

On LP I own any number of complete Beethoven String Quartets by the great masters of that genre. I bought them all as a teenager and in college. When I started buying CDs a complete Beethoven set for over $100 by a great quartet became out of my price range at the time. To find the Berg Quartet, (a favorite group of mine), surveying these great works at this price from Amazon is one of the best bargains going.

I went immediately to Op. 135 and found it marvelous in concept, execution and recording. I've now listened to almost all the quartets, and the consistency is wonderful. Because I'm in the business I'm using only high end professional equipment for playback and the sound is truly "You Are There". The recordings capture the upper overtones of all the instruments without the least harhsness, no mean feat. The blend of the group and the hall is articulated in a way that happens on only a very few recordings. Ocassionally one can hear a minor difference in what might be placement of microphones, even from movement to movement. This could, in fact, be the result of a temperature or humidity change in the recording venue. You have to pay very close attention to notice this and it does nothing to diminish these sonic wonders) Worth thrice the price.

What more can be said?.......2007-02-03

There are many wonderful performances of these remarkable pieces. Which is the finest? Only God, in his wisdom, will ever be able to answer such a question, but I'm sure with his celestial headphones on he'll be listening to the Alban Berg Quartet. For me this quartet is able to "read" each individual quartet with such clarity, from the light hearted humor of the Op.18 to the intense and darkly passionate Op.95 through to the strangely happy yet unearthly Op.135, with many other wonderful moments, that I can hardly imagine any better. You won't go wrong buying this.

With the Best of the Best.......2006-12-14

I know it's saying a great deal with the excellent full sets of these quartets to choose from, but these overall are my favorites. The playing is excellent, balanced and perfectly toned. There are unquestionably the deep emotional commitment of the Vegh Quartet, the intelligence of the Juilliard, the parlor intimacy of the Talisch and the muscular intensity of the Italiano. And the serious collector needs to listen to these sets, or selections of, for a rounded understanding of these works. But for a consistency of quality and feeling throughout a traversal of all the quartets I believe the Berg set wins an arguably close contest--at least for me.

What sound problems????.......2006-11-14

I am only writing this review in dispute of RB Townsend remarks below.
I have been listening to this mostly Live set for a few years now on high end Audiophile equipment and notice NO problems with sound at all.
It is clear, clean, crisp, transparent and rich with no "glare" at all.
if it is "well lit", this would suit Beethoven's strings perfectly.
An absolutely stunning performance with a Superb sound stage and sound.
All the other reviewers and the buyers who agree with their assessments (a hundred of them) can't be wrong.
With all due respect, Perhaps Mr. Townsend is listening to this on an Aiwa bookshelf System. Perhaps.

Average customer rating:

Supreme recordings of Beethovens late string quartets

Beethoven: The Late String Quartets

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000942LM
Release Date: 2003-07-01

Tracks:

Maestoso-Allegro
Adagio, Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile-Andante Con Moto-Adagio Molto Espressivo-Tempo I
Scherzo: Vivace
Allegro-Allegro Comodo
Adagio, Ma Non Troppo E Molto Espressivo-Attacca
Allegro Molto Vivace-Attacca
Allegro Moderato-Attacca
Andante, Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile-Piu Mosso-Andante Moderato E Lusinghiero-Adagio-Allegretto-Adagio, Ma Non Troppo E Semplice-Allegretto-Attacca
Presto-Attacca
Adagio Quasi Un Poco Andante-Attacca
Allegro

Tracks:

Assai Sostenuto-Allegro
Allegro Ma Non Tanto
A Convalescent's Holy SOng Of Thanksgiving To The Deity, In The Lydian Mode-Molto Adagio-Feeling New Strength: Andante-Molto Adagio-Andante-Molto Adagio
Alla Marcia, Assai Vivace-Piu Allegro-Attacca
Allegro Appasionato-Presto
Allegretto
Vivace
Lento Assai, Cantante E Tranquillo
The Difficult Decision: Grave Ma Non Troppo Tanto (Must It Be?) Allegro (It Must Be!)-Grave, Ma Non Troppo Tratto-Allegro

Tracks:

Adagio Ma Non Troppo-Allegro
Presto
Andante Con Moto, Ma Non Troppo
Alla Danza Tedesca: Allegro Assai
Cavatina: Adagio Molto Espressivo
Overtura: Allegro-Meno Mosso E Moderato-Allegro-Fuga: (Allegro)-Meno Mosso E Moderato-Allegro Molto E Con Brio-Allegro
Finale: Allegro (Alternative Finale)

Customer Reviews:

Supreme recordings of Beethovens late string quartets.......2006-12-15

The Emerson String Quartet combine a strength of performance at the same time giving the listener subtle shades of color producing one of the supreme recordings of Beethovens late string quartets ever. They've almost done the unattainable, by producing a new approach to this old musical literature, while maintaining integrity. They bring a level of thought to these performances that have rarely been matched. Enthusiastic and sensitive interpretations rolled into one. Their approach to the late quartets is perhaps my favorite interpretation. The Budapest, Busch, Guarneri, Talich and Vegh quartets are also very good, but these provide technical brilliance and are faithful to the score, while being heartwarming and intellectually inspiring. Also, these are definitely not cold readings, but ecstatic one's. I found them refreshing and different, and still deeply moving and of course, thrill with excitement.

The main reason I recommend these recordings is because they're carefully edited performances, so well done in fact, that I never heard a single edit and I'm a headphone listener. They did a lot of takes (versions) so that they (the Emersons & producer Max Wilcox) could cherry pick the best parts within each movement, creating "the magic take" or at least something very close. I also read that they'd like to enjoy hearing these recordings someday, without worrying...could we have done it better? Sure, they could have done the "one take" perfectly (I've seen them live), but perfect doesn't necessarily mean...magical. They utilized the recording studio for all it's worth. Bravo!

These musicians have obviously polished their form to a high level of refinement, and anyone interested in the late string quartets of Beethoven would likely rate this set as a valuable addition to their collection.

Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Great music given it's due.
The Best

Beethoven: The Late Quartets, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beethoven: Late Quartets, Vol. 2
Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas
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Brahms: The Complete Quintets
Debussy, Ravel: Streichquartette

ASIN: B0000041FL
Release Date: 1997-01-28

Tracks:

String Quartet Op. 127 in E flat: 1. Maestoso - Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 127 in E flat: 2. Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile - L.V. Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 127 in E flat: 3. Scherzando vivace - L.V. Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 127 in E flat: 4. Finale - L.V. Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 135 in F: 1. Allegretto - L.V. Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 135 in F: 2. Vivace - L.V. Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 135 in F: 3. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo - L.V. Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 135 in F: 4. Der schwer gefasste Entschluss. Grave - Allegro - Grave ma non troppo tratto - Allegro - L.V. Beethoven

Tracks:

String Quartet Op. 130 in B flat: 1. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro - Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 130 in B flat: 2. Presto - Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 130 in B flat: 3. Andante con moto ma non troppo. Poco scherzando - Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 130 in B flat: 4. Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai - Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 130 in B flat: 5. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo - Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 130 in B flat: 6. Finale. Allegro - Beethoven
'Grosse Fuge' Op. 133 in B flat: Overtura. Allegro - Meno mosso e moderato - Allegro - Fuga - Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

Great music given it's due........2005-04-04

In the late quartets Beethoven continued to evolve many of his compositional techniques: he manages to add to the harmonic rules of before and does new things in the way of tonality and form. These quartets have a sound world all of their own, and create a small-scale effect quite different from the massive-sounding works that came before, such as the "Hammerklavier" sonata and the 9th Symphony. It would be fair to say that no other artist has ever mangaged to reach such spiritual heights. The Quartetto Italiano give superbly polished performances which are able to express the refined tones of these works. Compare their well-rehearsed renditions that come close to perfection with the more ruffled recordings of the Vegh Quartet, for example, and one really appreciates the way in which they are able to sustain the superhuman requirements of these pieces. With the Vegh team we hear 4 human beings, with these recordings we hear Beethoven's unique vision.

The Best.......2003-08-09

This may very well be the best recording of the late quartets I've ever heard. The highlight, of course, is the massive Grosse Fuge, which is the most far-sighted piece of music ever written. In it, Beethoven predicted trends of early 20th century music. Stravinsky said that it sounded modern to his ears. This performance is exceptional in that it brings out the revolutionary quality of the music without ever sounding like an exercise in 20th century performance. Instead, the dissonances and syncopation are emphasized in a manner that elicits the most emotional and technically perfect performance imaginable. And of course, the other quartets aren't just fillers. No way. The playing on these masterpieces is just as incredible as it is in the Fuge. The incredible detail and perfection demanded by Beethoven is difficult to meet, but the Quarteto Italiano manage to step up to the challenge and surpass anybody's expectations. This is a recording to grab and hold onto forever. It's just exceptional!

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: Complete String Quartets
Juilliard String Quartet
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Beethoven Quartet Companion
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Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9; Overtures; Violin Concerto (Limited Edition)
Beethoven: Complete String Quartets

ASIN: B00006OA6A
Release Date: 2002-11-11

Tracks:

1-4 String Quartet No.1 In F Major, Op. 18 No.1
5-8 String Quartet No.2 In G Major, Op.18 No.2
9-12 String Quartet No.3 In D Major, Op.18 No.3
1-4 String Quartet No.4 In D Minor, Op. 18 No.3
5-8 String Quartet No.5 In A Major, Op.18 No.5
9-12 String Quartet No.6 In B-Flat Major, Op.18 No.6
1-4 String Quartet No.7 In F Major, Op.59 No.1
1-4 String Quartet No.8 In E Minor, Op.59 No.2
5-8 String Quartet No.9 In C Major, Op.59 No.3
1-4 String Quartet No.10 In E-Flat Major, Op. 74 "Harp"
5-8 String Quartet No.11 In F Minor Op.95
1-4 String Quartet No.12 In E-Flat Major, Op.127
5-11 String Quartet No.13 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131
1-7 String Quartet No.14 In B-Flat Major, Op. 130
1-5 String Quartet No.15 In A Minor, Op.132
6-9 String Quartet No.16 In F Major, Op. 135

Beethoven: String Quartet, Op. 130; Grosse Fuge, Op. 133

Average customer rating:

Music of the Spheres - My Highest Recommendation

Beethoven: String Quartet, Op. 130; Grosse Fuge, Op. 133

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003D1P
Release Date: 2003-11-25

Tracks:

I. Adagio Ma Non Troppo; Allegro
II. Presto
III. Andante Con Moto Ma Non Troppo
IV. Alla Danza Tedesca: Allegro Assai
V. Cavatina: Adagio Molto Espressivo
VI. Finale: Allegro
Grosse Fuge, Op. 133 (In B-Flat Major, In B-Dur, En Si Bemol Majeur)

Customer Reviews:

Music of the Spheres - My Highest Recommendation.......2006-05-29

Among recordings of Beethoven's string quartets there is an abundance of choice. Many of finest string quartet groups have recorded the full cycle. Having heard these quartets performed by the Alban Berg Quartet ("ABQ"), the Juilliard Quartet ("JQ"), the Kodaly Quartet ("KQ"), and the Cleveland Quartet ("CQ"), I find each of these groups outstanding in its own way.

As Alan Lekan states in his 01/14/2005 review of the complete Beethoven cycle by the Quartetto Italiano, "competition is fierce and it really comes down to what stylistic nuances most appeal to you."

In terms of my own preferences, if the ABQ, JQ, and KQ all deserve five stars out of five for their performances, then the CQ deserves a sixth star. All four groups play together seamlessly and capture the energy and passion of Beethoven, but the CQ also has an extra touch of lyrical magic and smooth refinement coupled with passionate energy in the quality of their performance.

The CQ performs with an elegance as smooth as silk, while also capturing the liveliness of the quartets' allegro, scherzo, and presto movements, where there is a wonderful interaction between the violins and viola, playing the melody and the cello, providing a strong rhythm and anchoring the melody while at times playing in opposition to it and at other times in accompaniment; all the instruments are distinct and play both with and against each other in a perfect blend of harmony and, in the more rapid passages, a flawless tension that beautifully conveys the passion in the music.

The adagio and andante movements on this CD take us on a musical and mental journey deep into the inner world of Beethoven's late period, where all of the wonderful passion in the ebb and flow of this music are present together with an exquisite tenderness and lyricism. This CD fully conveys the CQ's love for these quartets as well as their technical brilliance, and makes listening to this music an absolute joy.

The sound quality of this digital recording is superbly rich, clear, and full, and evokes the impression of highly polished wood, like the wood of the instrument depicted on the cover of the CD insert and the wood of the superb instruments played by these incredibly talented musicians: William Preucil plays a Stradivarious violin from 1701; Peter Salaff, a J.B. Guadegnini violin from 1783; James Dunham, a Gaspar da Salo viola from 1585; and Paul Katz, an Andrea Guarneri cello from 1669.

The quality of the sound engineering is excellent, as with the vast majority of Telarc CDs. Everyone involved in making this outstanding recording, from the musicians to the sound engineers, has every reason to be proud of this accomplishment. Out of several hundred classical music CD's, I would select the Cleveland Quartet's recordings of all of the Beethoven Quartets, including this CD, as amongst my very best, "desert island" CDs. The CD essay is well-written, detailed, and informative. This CD has my highest recommendation. Time = 61:52

Average customer rating:

Mostly good
Look at the List of Performers First
this "masterworks" series is available much more cheaply from Amazon France
You heard guy below: Beethoven needs the royality checks!
Buy my box Set!

Beethoven: The Masterworks (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00062FLHE
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

Mostly good.......2007-05-26

A bit of a mixed bag. The symphonies are superb. This is one of the great symphony cycles. The piano sonatas are good, very good (analog) sound. The quartets are well recorded indeed, but there are better cycles out there. The rest is OK, and the sound is genrally good.

Look at the List of Performers First.......2006-11-17

If you want most of Beethoven sitting on one bookshelf, this is a great bargain (especially if you shop for it on amazon.de). But few if any of the performances represent the pinnacles of interpretation that most listeners demand when Beethoven is the composer. The symphonies for instance: can Blomstedt be compared to Furtwangler or (if you lean toward historically informed instrumentation) Gardiner? Most amazingly, the artists who perform the quartets -- the heart of Beethoven's music -- are not even named in the listing.
On the other hand: Vivaldi: The Masterworks is a collection including the very best interpreters, such as Fabio Biondi! Bach Edition (complete Bach) is a fabulous selection of recordings made over 20 years, and almost the same praise can be given the Complete Mozart.

this "masterworks" series is available much more cheaply from Amazon France.......2006-05-28

there are several sets in this series and it's much cheaper to buy these from Amazon France.

included are bach, beethoven, vivaldi, brahms, dvorak, schubert, handel, hayden, and mendelssohn.

they're even cheaper than the list price once u go through the checkout (VAT is removed for overseas (out-of-france) purchases).

**also, the 'complete works of mozart' set is much cheaper there (or at Amazon Germany), too. the 'complete works of bach' is due out later this year.

You heard guy below: Beethoven needs the royality checks! .......2006-04-07

There is quality beyond the Austrian green cardboard (which is lovely to look at, to say the least). In fact, the performance of the symphonies (Dresden Staatskapelle and Herbert Blomstedt) is alone worth the price. The Staatskapelle is a solid group, and Blomstedt, although less wellknown, holds his own. It should be mentioned that Blomstedt recorded many of the most celebrated 20th composition CDs on the market, and definitely knows his stuff. Peter Wohlert recorded mostly for compiliation lables, but to be selected by the Berlin Phil shows that he is a formdiable conductor in rank as well.

Should you buy this collection then? Given the fact that each CD cost $1.75, there is definitely the bargin factor. However, Beethoven's music desveres the top interpreters and musicians of our time - and this applies for all of his music, not just the symphonic. If you are into bargins, then proceed to buy this collection. However, if you save up a bit more, you can buy Karajan's 1963 Beethovens symphonies along with Kempff's 1956 sonata cycles for just a bit more than 70 bucks. Shop around for the string quartets, and the complete overtures should range anywhere from 15 to 30 bucks depending on the conductor/ensemble.

Overall, this is certainly an exceptional bargin. However, quality matter more than money. Besides, chicks dig people with sophisticated tastes.

Buy my box Set!.......2006-03-21

Awesome deal, 40 CD box set of me, Beethoven! There are 3 principle reasons you should buy this box set:

This box is QUALITY my friend, made of the finest, Austrian cardboard with a lovely green finish, it is made to last! You can just set it on your dresser and whenever you need a Beethoven fix you can just pull a CD out. But don't you hate getting your CDs out of order so you can't find what the hell you're looking for?! Not with this set! They are well organized into symphonies, concerti, sonatas and such, so you can find EXACTLY what your looking for, and they have big numbers on them so you can put them right back where they belong.

And the music! Need we go into this, composed through the inspiration of God himself and penned by the greatest composer who ever walked the streets of Vienna, me, Beethoven! Top notch, all done by top performers and recorded at high, clear, digital quality, stick one in your stereo and rock out man! All of my great and mighty works are here, absolutely sublime!

Lastly, you'll be supporting me, I need those royalty checks to keep rolling in!

Buy it if you love me or just buy it if you want people to think that you're sophisticated (the chicks also dig it, I should know: Antonie Brentano, giggity!), you can't go wrong!

Beethoven: The String Quartets/ Grosse Fuge

Average customer rating:

The Guarneri Beethoven--A Transcendental Bargain
Studied, unyielding performances in badly dated sound
The Guarneri Quartet Plays Beethoven
A Treasure
The Guarneri Quartet does the best BEETHOVEN

Beethoven: The String Quartets/ Grosse Fuge

Manufacturer: RCA
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Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Mozart: Six Quartets Dedicated to Haydn
Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet
Beethoven: Complete String Quartets
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas (Complete) [Box Set]
Bach: The Landowska Recordings

ASIN: B00011MK6U
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

Allegro Con Brio
Adagio Affettuoso Ed Appassionato
Scherzo: Allegro Molto; Trio
Allegro
Allegro
Adagio Cantabile; Allegro
Scherzo: Allegro; Trio
Allegro Molto Quasi Presto
Allegro
Andante Con Moto
Allegro
Presto

Tracks:

Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Scherzo: Andante Scherzoso Quasi Allegretto
Menuetto: Allegretto; Trio
Allegro; Prestissimo
Allegro
Menuetto; Trio
Andante Cantabile; Variazioni 1-5; Poco Adagio
Allegro

Tracks:

Allegro Con Brio
Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Scherzo: Allegro; Trio
La Malincolia: Adagio; Allegretto Quasi Allegro: Prestissimo
Allegro
Allegretto Vivace E Sempre Scherzando
Adagio Molto E Mesto
Theme Russe: Allegro

Tracks:

Allegro
Molto Adagio
Allegretto
Finale: Presto
Introduzione: Andante Con Moto; Allegro Vivace
Andante Con Moto Quasi Allegretto
Menuetto: Grazioso
Allegro Molto

Tracks:

Poco Adagio Allegro
Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Presto: Piu Presto Quasi Prestissimo
Allegretto Con Variazioni
Allegro Con Brio
Allegretto Ma Non Troppo
Allegro Assai Vivace Ma Serioso
Larghetto Espressivo; Allegretto Agitato

Tracks:

Assai Sostenuto; Allegro
Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen An Die Gottheit, In Der Lydischen Tonart: Molto Adagio; Neue Kraft Fuhlend: Andante
Alla Marcia, Assai Vivace
Allegro Appassionato
Grande Fugue Op.133

Tracks:

Adagio, Ma Non Troppo E Molto Espressivo
Allegro Molto Vivace
Allegro Moderato
Andante, Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile
Presto
Adagio Quasi Un Poco Andante
Allegro
Maestoso; Allegro
Adagio; Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile
Scherzando Vivace: Presto
Finale: Allegro Con Moto

Tracks:

Adagio, Ma Non Troppo; Allegro
Presto
Andante Con Moto, Ma Non Troppo
Alla Danza Tedesca: Allegro Assai
Cavatina: Adagio Molto Espressivo
Finale: Allegro
Allegretto
Vivace
Lento Assai, Cantante E Tranquillo
Der Schwer Gefasste Entschluss: Frage, Ma Non Troppo Tratto; Allegro

Customer Reviews:

The Guarneri Beethoven--A Transcendental Bargain.......2007-01-10

It's been many years since I last attempted a journey through the complete Beethoven Quartets. I'm not sure if my musical tastes have matured that much or whether the playing by the Quarneri Quartet on RCA is that good, but they have now convinced me that these Beethoven Quartets are pieces that I will return to regularly for enjoyment. The Shostakovich Quartets still speak to me on a more personal level, and I still struggle to figure out the middle Bartok Quartets. The Beethoven set by the Alban Berg Quartet on EMI 73606 has served as a great complement to the Quarneri performances, and I now I can highly recommend either one (better both) of these unbelievable bargains to those wanting to better appreciate the Beethoven String Quartets.

Studied, unyielding performances in badly dated sound.......2006-01-12

After a glorious decade of Living Stereo, RCA entered the Dynagroove era with some of the worst sound ever recorded by a major label. The Guarneri suffered badly from this--these Beethoven quartets sound dry, cramped, and charmless. I vividly remember the early excitement over this group. They were heirs to the intellectual style of quartet playing represented by the Budapest Quartet, and as individual musicians, these young graduates of Curtis, who also played every summer at Marlboro, were pre-anointed.

Now the picture is rather different. The Guarneri remains a top-flght group, but they haven't turned into resplendent artists (a TV film documentary from the late Nineties shows that they are thoroughly sick of each other personaly; some members barely speak outside rehearsal.) Their Beethoven doesn't sing and is much too studied. Beethoven quartets must communicate several things at once, and the Guarneri are excellent at some of them: ensemble, individual technique, serious purpose, classical balance. But without spontaneity and inspiration, those qualities lie on fallow ground. One minute of exposure to the Alban Berg's live Beethoven cycle on EMI (not caught in the best sound, either) reveals how much more joyful and singing these great works can be. At the risk of offending the Guarneri's many fans, these readings only go halfway to the mark.

The Guarneri Quartet Plays Beethoven.......2005-08-18

I recently spent several days at home recovering from minor surgery and took the opportunity to revist the Beethoven string quartets and the Beethoven piano sonatas. I thought the quartets would be especially appropriate to hear in recovering from surgery. I looked forward particularly to revisiting the "Holy Song of Thanksgiving to the Deity by a Convalscent,in the Lydian Mode", the third movement of the opus 132 quartet which Beethoven wrote when he recovered from an illness far worse than that which plagued me. There is, perhaps, a similar feeling expressed in the slow, hymnlike movement of the second Razumovsky Quartet, opus 59 no.2.

Hearing the music made me appreciate not only my health but also the opportunities I have enjoyed to get to know the quartets. Many years ago, I first heard the quartets live played by the Fine Arts Quartet when it was the quartet-in-residence at the University of Wisconsin -- Milwaukee. I subsequently acquired the Fine Arts Quartet's excellent recording of the entire cycle. Then, while living in Washington D.C. for thirty years, I have had many opportunities to hear the Juilliard String Quartet, and other ensembles, perform the Beethoven quartets at the Library of Congress, probably the best musical venue in what is a musical capital city.

To rehear the quartets, I chose a recent reissue of the cycle by the Guarneri Quartet. I have never heard the Guarneri's live before, even though the quartet is in residence at the nearby University of Maryland. The group has been playing together since 1965 and is deservedly revered. The ensemble plays with a lyrical, songlike and expressive character, with a flow, a grace, and a feel of gemuitlicheit that brought me new insights into this music. It is an outstanding recording of the quartet cycle. In a detailed review of the Guarneri's performance of the cycle on MusicWeb, Paul Shoemaker justly wrote that "If there's a better version of these quartets, I've not heard it."

As do the piano sonatas, Beethoven's 16 quartets allow the listener to experience the development and deepening of his style from his early period, to the period of maturity, to the final works at the end of his life. But the quartets are evenly divided between Beethoven's three major compositional periods while the piano sonatas are somewhat weighted towards the composer's earlier years. In addition, Beethoven composed his quartets in three rather continuous blocks, giving each group a distinctive character, while the piano sonatas were written more continuously in Beethoven's career and tend to meld and flow more easily from one period to another.

In recovering from an illness, I thought while listening of how the quartets deal in their different ways with human pain. Beethoven composed his first series of six quartets, opus 18, as a young man in his late 20s who was full of hope and optimism, aware of his extraordinary gifts and of his ability to realize them in his music. These works are in the style of Haydn and Mozart but show a Beethoven intent on developing a voice of his own. They are optimistic, powerful works full of confidence but with hints of sadness and depths in the slow movement of the first quartet and in the "La Malinconia" section of the fourth movement of the sixth quartet. In my listening, I spent more time revisiting this first group of quartets than I had anticipated.

The second group of quartets include the three "Razumovsky" quartets of opus 59 written in 1806 together with the "Harp" and "Serioso" quartets written somewhat later. These are large, inspiring works from Beethoven's "heroic" period and the best known of his quartets. They show a composer who has known difficulty and disappointment, in his growing deafness, his health, and in his failure to form a lasting loving and sexual relationship with a woman, who tries to overcome his problems through strength, hope and will. These are large-scale inspiring works. I spent most of my time in this group with the second quartet of opus 59, with the poignant slow movement of the third quarted of opus 59 and, surprisingly, with the radiant lyricism of the "harp" quartet, opus 74.

Beethoven's final compositions consist of the last five quartets, opus nos. 127, 130, 131, 132, 135, together with the "Great Fugue" opus 133. This is deep and complex music in which Beethoven moves beyond suffering and struggle to various forms of recognition and acceptance. In rehearing this music as played by the Guarneri Quartet, I was taken by its lyricism, the many songs, dances, and marches in these quartets interlaced with the more forbidding fugues. The Guarneri Quartet has the rare virtue of not taking itself too seriously. I have already mentioned the "Hymn of Thanksgiving" in the opus 132 quartet. I also listened a great deal to the opus 127 quartet, which opens with inspiring chords and is a mixture of the resolute and the reflective, and to the final quartet, opus 135. This is the shortest quartet of the final five and shows Beethoven finding his answer to human suffering in the form of comedy and laughter rather than tragedy (think of the laughing Buddha). I also thought about the ending Beethoven wrote, after completing opus 135, to replace the "Great Fugue" in opus 130. It seemed to me that he had acted wisely and correctly by bringing this quartet to a light, almost comedic, conclusion.

It is not a pleasant experience to be in recovery, but I was grateful for the opportunity to hear the Guarneri Quartet and to revisit the Beethoven string quartets. This is music that speaks to the heart of listeners at different times and stages of life. I suggest that listeners coming to the quartets for the first time (or after many times) also read a good overview to Beethoven's life and music. I recommend Lewis Lockwood's "Beethoven: The Music and the Life" (2003). This study places Beethoven's achievement in its historical and musical context and includes lengthy treatments of each of the three groups of string quartets.

Robin Friedman

A Treasure.......2004-07-24

Beethoven like it's never played anymore. This is old world quartet playing -- warm, detailed phrasing and an emphasis on tonal beauty. Rather than choosing one blazing tempo and plowing head first through a movement (Emerson, Alban Berg Quartets), the Guarneri utilize a wider dynamic range. They are not afraid to slow down to bring out detail and drama, or speed up to get the blood pumping (the last mvt of op59-3 is the fastest of the 11 versions I have).

The sound quality is superb, one of the best quartet cds I have ever heard. I agree with the reviewer below, it sounds like the players are in your living room. These are late 1960s recordings that RCA originally released on CD in the late 80s on their Gold Seal label. I am aware that many complained about the sound quality of the earlier release. However, this release has been newly remastered in 2003 using 20 bit technology and the results are astounding. Indeed, if you have the older CDs, you may want to buy this one as a replacement. Enjoy.

The Guarneri Quartet does the best BEETHOVEN.......2004-04-30

I have always loved the Guarneri Quartets Beethoven recordings of the 1960s.
Believe me it is a crowded field out there with a lot of wonderful versions, but I've always thought their interpretations were as good if not better than the Quartetto, Lindsey, Italiano, Vegh, Talich or Medici versions. I have found that the Guarneri Quartet has provided an outstanding escort to these wonderful journeys, the genuine straightforwardness of their playing along with their unrivaled execution, and rich intonation helps to make the Beethoven quartets a extremely poignant experience every time I hear them. In a word, these performances are close to perfection. The Guarneri Quartet really understand what the music is about, they are playing more than just the notes.
The recordings are good (thanks to engineer Richard Gardner) and with the fantastic re-mastering job, the recordings now sound superb, with excellent presence and definition. The instruments are closely miked and the sound is nice and dry (it sounds like they are playing in your living room) so that the performances can be fully enjoyed. These recordings are vibrant and exciting! Even the CD layout has been improved so that the great Opus 127 is no longer split over two discs.
Instead of three sets, totaling nine discs and costing well over one hundred, it has been condensed to one complete slim line box set with eight discs and costing about half the price!

Highly recommend!!

Average customer rating:

An overrated performance
All in all---a great set
Lackluster Ludwig!
Gramophone "Top 100 Recording"
Geez! How many 5* reviews do you want. Its great - Get it.

Beethoven: Complete String Quartets
Ludwig van Beethoven , Quartetto Italiano , Piero Farulli , Elisa Pegreffi , and Paolo Borciani
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas
Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet
Beethoven: The String Quartets/ Grosse Fuge
Mozart: Violin Concertos; Wind Concertos
Haydn: Complete Piano Trios

ASIN: B0000041LL
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

Quartet In F Major, Op.18 No.1: 1. Allegro con brio
Quartet In F Major, Op.18 No.1: 2. Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato
Quartet In F Major, Op.18 No.1: 3. Scherzo. Allegro molto
Quartet In F Major, Op.18 No.1: 4. Allegro
Quartet In G Major, Op.18 No.2: 1. Allegro
Quartet In G Major, Op.18 No.2: 2. Adagio cantabile - Allegro - Tempo I
Quartet In G Major, Op.18 No.2: 3. Scherzo. Allegro
Quartet In G Major, Op.18 No.2: 4. Allegro molto, quasi presto

Tracks:

Quartet In D Major, Op.18 No.3: 1. Allegro
Quartet In D Major, Op.18 No.3: 2. Andante con moto
Quartet In D Major, Op.18 No.3: 3. Allegro
Quartet In D Major, Op.18 No.3: 4. Presto
Quartet In C Minor, Op.18 No.4: 1. Allegro ma non tanto
Quartet In C Minor, Op.18 No.4: 2. Andante scherzoso, quasi allegretto
Quartet In C Minor, Op.18 No.4: 3. Menuetto. Allegretto
Quartet In C Minor, Op.18 No.4: 4. Allegro

Tracks:

Quartet In A Major, Op.18 No.5: 1. Allegro
Quartet In A Major, Op.18 No.5: 2. Menuetto
Quartet In A Major, Op.18 No.5: 3. Andante cantabile
Quartet In A Major, Op.18 No.5: 4. Allegro
Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op.18 No.6: 1. Allegro con brio
Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op.18 No.6: 2. Adagio ma non troppo
Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op.18 No.6: 3. Scherzo. Allegro
Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op.18 No.6: 4. La Malinconia. Adagio - Allegretto quasi allegro - Adagio - Allegretto - Poco adagio - Prestissimo

Tracks:

Quartet In F Major, Op.59 No.1: 1. Allegro
Quartet In F Major, Op.59 No.1: 2. Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando
Quartet In F Major, Op.59 No.1: 3. Allegro molto e mesto
Quartet In F Major, Op.59 No.1: 4. Theme russe. Allegro

Tracks:

Quartet In E Minor, Op.59 No.2: 1. Allegro
Quartet In E Minor, Op.59 No.2: 2. Molto adagio
Quartet In E Minor, Op.59 No.2: 3. Allegretto
Quartet In E Minor, Op.59 No.2: 4. Finale. Presto
Quartet In F Minor, Op.95: 1. Allegro con brio
Quartet In F Minor, Op.95: 2. Allegretto ma non troppo
Quartet In F Minor, Op.95: 3. Allegro assai vivace ma serioso
Quartet In F Minor, Op.95: 4. Larghetto espressivo - Allegretto agitato

Tracks:

Quartet In C Major, Op.59 No.3: 1. Introduzione. Andante con moto - Allegro vivace
Quartet In C Major, Op.59 No.3: 2. Andante con moto quasi allegretto
Quartet In C Major, Op.59 No.3: 3. Menuetto. Grazioso
Quartet In C Major, Op.59 No.3: 4. Allegro molto
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.74: 1. Poco adagio - Allegro
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.74: 2. Adagio ma non troppo
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.74: 3. Presto - Piu presto quasi prestissimo
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.74: 4. Allegretto con variazioni

Tracks:

Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.127: 1. Maestoso - Allegro
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.127: 2. Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.127: 3. Scherzando vivace
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.127: 4. Finale
Quartet In F Major, Op.135: 1. Allegretto
Quartet In F Major, Op.135: 2. Vivace
Quartet In F Major, Op.135: 3. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo
Quartet In F Major, Op.135: 4. Der schwer gefasste Entschluss. Grave - Allegro - Grave ma non troppo tratto - Allegro

Tracks:

Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: 1. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro - Beethoven
Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: 2. Presto - Beethoven
Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: 3. Andante con moto ma non troppo. Poco Scherzando - Beethoven
Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: 4. Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai - Beethoven
Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo - Beethoven
Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: Finale. Allegro - Beethoven
Quartet In B Flat Major, Op.133: Overtura. Allegro - Meno mosso e moderato - Allegro - Fuga - Beethoven

Tracks:

Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op.131: 1. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo - Beethoven
Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op.131: 2. Allegro molto vivace - Beethoven
Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op.131: 3. Allegro moderato - Beethoven
Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op.131: 4. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile - Piu mosso - Andante moderato e lusinghiero - Adagio - Allegretto - Adagio, ma non troppo e semplice - Allegretto - Beethoven
Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op.131: 5. Presto - Beethoven
Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op.131: 6. Adagio quasi un poco andante - Beethoven
Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op.131: 7. Allegro - Beethoven

Tracks:

Quartet In A Minor, Op.132: 1. Assai sostenuto - Allegro
Quartet In A Minor, Op.132: 2. Allegro ma non tanto
Quartet In A Minor, Op.132: 3. Canzona di ringraziamento. Molto adagio - Sentendo nuova forza. Andante
Quartet In A Minor, Op.132: 4. Alla marcia, assai vivace - Piu allegro - Presto
Quartet In A Minor, Op.132: 5. Allegro appassionato

Customer Reviews:

An overrated performance.......2007-01-29

Well, I really do not understand those who acclaim this recording with 5 stars. I sincerely urge you to go back to Busch or Budapest or the Lindsays or the Vegh or the Takacs.
Concerning the late string quartets which should be core of this recording, I will give this recording 2 stars. 1 more star is for their Op.18 quartets.
They can surely play this music, yes, but I highly doubt that they "know" and feel deeply at heart this music.
A safe and boring and idle interpretation of the music. I want more intensity, more depth, more spiritied approach to this kind of music, but the Quartetto Italiano fails in every aspect that I can appreciate.
Listen to the slow movement of the late quartets. Well, slow, but not touching. Especially that variation movent in Op.131. Very dull performance. And listen to the fast movements. Again, no concrete music making here.

These people shine in their Haydn or maybe Debussy or Ravel, certainly not in Beethoven. Overall, they are just average performances, for the late quartets, a huge dissapointment.

All in all---a great set.......2005-11-15

I can't add much to the praise stated over and over here----but I must say the warmth and deep feeling brought out by this quartet makes this set consistantly rewarding.

The "Quartetto Serioso" still blows me away every time I hear it. And the bright pluckiness (pun intended) of the first movement of the 'Harp" quartet always lifts my spirits. I only mention these 2 because these solitary quartets are somewhat overlooked and undervalued, it seems.

The Lindsays (some others too) tend to be more speedy and energetic----but this isnt always what is desired. I prefer the Lindsays in Op. 130's Presto, which is really quick, light and whimsical---and just has more sparkle than the Italians. But I have a feeling a boxed set of all 16 quartets with the Lindsays (and I hope they do this some day!) would have more shortcomings than this set.

In the Razumovsky no.3, I would recommend the Budapest quartet's 1960 recording over the Italians, mainly because of their performance of the strange 2nd movement. The Budapest quartet often sounds cold and detached-----and this is a cold, weird movement-----so they are perfect, in this case!

I must also commend the fine design of this boxed set. I like the neat little envelopes containing the cd's, rather than the typical plastic box with loose cd's flopping around and falling out when you open it, hinges that come undone, etc., etc.!!

Lackluster Ludwig!.......2005-04-25

These were the first recordings of these works that I encountered as a young listener. I purchased the set on LP's and more or less steered clear of these works for a number of years until I heard other performances. Quartetto Italiano's boring performances of these dynamic masterpieces are among the worst on the market. In fact, the only set I can recall that would fall into this dismal class would be that by the Orford Quartet on the Delos label. I don't own the set on CD, but I have gone back to my old LP's on occasion only to find that my original impression of these performances was absolutely correct. If you're an insomniac, don't hesitate to grab either set.

Gramophone "Top 100 Recording".......2005-01-15

Such complete works as this - spanning the composer's lifetime - make for an excellent study in the composer's musical evolution. Although termed "early" works, Beethoven's first Op. 18 Quartets were composed when he was around thirty, having dozens of brilliant compositions behind him. These first quartets show both the 'restrained' classical forms and mannerisms of Haydn but with notable evolutions like the introduction of deeply emotional and tragic writing (the slow movement of the No. 1). The "middle period" quartets (op. 59, 74) shows Beethoven at his most "Heroic" style composing broad, sweeping, and increasing complex part writing - so much that the fickle Viennese audiences used to Haydn's and Mozart's classical style were not quite sure what to think of them. Even more abstract to audiences (outside Beethoven's quartet friends) were the late works (Op. 130-135) which progress to totally new ideas, sounds and organization. These included unusual, frequent and unexpected shifts in dynamics, tempo and key modulations. But most historic was an intangible emotive quality Beethoven introduced to music which might be termed "spirituality." What is most amazing is that these musical revolutions all were developed when in Bethoven's final years lived in a state of sadness, illness, deafness and isolation. Yet, having a lifetime of notes and music in his head, his composing skills were not limited at all by this deafness but perhaps even more focused. With their highly evolutionary form and spiritual nature, the late quartets are in a category of their own and have provoked many an analysis as to their meaning and connection to Beethoven's final years.

The Quartetto Italiano show why they were a legendary quartet in the 60's and 70's with a remarkable performance of great depth here. Complementing them is a vibrant Philips recording in spite of its 60's heritage. The sound is very good but just a little shy of depth and richness as compared to the modern DDD recordings like the new Takacs recordings (but absolutely nothing to deter purchase). One listen will reveal why it is a Gramophone "Top 100 Recording of all time." Given all the superb recordings since, this speaks highly of this set. Their playing is masterful, dramatic and probing - all while maintaining their characteristic smooth and emotive style that has endeared them for generations. Other notable quartets for these works include the Takacs, Emerson, Busch, Vegh, Talich, Alban Berg and Lindsay Quartets. All the above are rated 3/3 stars by Penguin Guide, so competion is fierce and it really comes down to what stylistic nuances most appeal to you. Other reviews below give some insights into the comparitive performance as each brings something different and insightful to the music (my first choices would be the Takacs or Alban Berg). So, get the one that most catches your interest and imagination. But, as far as value and quality of performance, this neatly-packaged Philips complete set of 10 CD's here may be hard to beat - although the superb Alban Berg set is a great value too. Compositions - 5 stars, Performance - 5 stars, Sound - 4.5 stars.

Side note: Before Beethoven tackled the quartet genre, he wrote some pretty superb music for STRING TRIO which are lesser-known pieces brimming with freshness, imagination and delightful harmonies in the more "classical tradition." The Leopold Trio or Grumiaux Trio are excellent choices for these. These five works for string trio are a neglected part of Beethoven's music that is most rewarding and provide a context for the later, monumental string quartets.

Geez! How many 5* reviews do you want. Its great - Get it........2005-01-02

Whilst I enjoyed the Lindsays Op.127 more thsn the rendition in this set, one doesn't make the whole and there is such consistency here. Each peace is given the attention it deserves and in some cases more - not every piece written by a master is a masterpiece.

Overall and specifically, a fantastic set, a credit to the group and whilst the perfect place to start with these sometimes seemingly impossibly sublime works, I would have no objection to finishing with them as well.

Beethoven: String Quartets - Borodin String Quartet (4 CDs)

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: String Quartets - Borodin String Quartet (4 CDs)

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tchaikovsky: String Quartets Nos. 1 - 3/Souvenir De Florence
Twelfth Night: or, What You Will (Signet Classics)

ASIN: B000090WCC
Release Date: 2003-02-10

Tracks:

I Allegro
II Allegretto Vivace E Sempre Scherzando
III Adagio Molto E Mesto
IV Theme Russe: Allegro
I Introduzione: Andante Con Moto - Allegro Vivace
II Andante Con Moto - Allegro Vivace
III Menuetto: Grazioso
IV Allegro Molto

Tracks:

I Allegro Con Brio
II Allegretto Ma Non Troppo
III Allegro Assai Ma Serioso - Piu Allegro
IV Larghetto Espressivo - Allegro Agitato - Allegro
I Assai Sostenuto - Allegro
II Allegro Ma Non Tanto
III Molto Adagio, Andante ('Heiliger Dankgesang Eines Genesenen An Die Gottheit, In Der Lydischen Tonart'
IV Alla Marcia, Assai Vivace - Piu Allegro
V Allegro Appassionato

Tracks:

I Allegro Ma Non Tanto
II Scherzo: Andante Scherzoso Quasi Allegretto
III Menuetto: Allegretto
IV Allegro - Prestissimo
I Allegro
II Menuetto
III Andante Cantabile
IV Allegro

Tracks:

I Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Allegro
II Presto
III Andante Con Moto, Ma Non Troppo
IV Alla Danza Tedesca (Allegro Assai)
V Cavatina (Adagio Molto Espressivo)
Grosse Fuge In B Flat Major, Op. 133
VI Finale (Allegro)

Average customer rating:

Technically flawless, but lacking emotionally
Charming performances, good sound, budget packaging
Stay away from this cycle
Beethoven: The String Quartets
Simply The Best Ever Recording of Beethoven String Quartets

Beethoven: The String Quartets

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beethoven: The Violin Sonatas
Mozart: The Violin Sonatas
Brahms: Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets
Schubert: The String Quartets
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas

ASIN: B00002DEH2
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

String Quartet In F Major, Op. 18 No. 1: Allegro con brio
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 18 No. 1: Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 18 No. 1: Scherzo. Allegro molto
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 18 No. 1: Allegro
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 18 No.2: Allegro
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 18 No.2: Adagio cantabile - Allegro - Tempo I
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 18 No.2: Scherzo. Allegro
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 18 No.2: Allegro molto quasi Presto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 18 No.3: Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 18 No.3: Andante con moto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 18 No.3: Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 18 No.3: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 18 No. 4: Allegro ma non tanto
String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 18 No. 4: Scherzo. Andante scherzoso quasi Allegretto
String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 18 No. 4: Menuetto. Allegretto
String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 18 No. 4: Allegro - Prestissimo
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 18 No. 5: Allegro
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 18 No. 5: Menuetto
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 18 No. 5: Andante cantabile. Thema - Variationen I-V - Coda. Poco Adagio
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 18 No. 5: Allegro
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 18 No. 6: Allegro con brio
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 18 No. 6: Adagio ma non troppo
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 18 No. 6: Scherzo. Allegro
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 18 No. 6: La Malinconia. Adagio - Allegretto quasi Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet In F Major, Op. 59 No.1: Allegro
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 59 No.1: Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 59 No.1: Adagio molto e mesto - attacca
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 59 No.1: Theme russe. Allegro
String Quartet In E Minor, Op. 59 No.2: Allegro
String Quartet In E Minor, Op. 59 No.2: Molto Adagio. Si tratta questo pezzo con molto di sentimento
String Quartet In E Minor, Op. 59 No.2: Allegretto
String Quartet In E Minor, Op. 59 No.2: Finale. Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In C Major, Op. 59 No.3: Introduzione. Andante con moto - Allegro vivace
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 59 No.3: Andante con moto quasi Allegretto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 59 No.3: Menuetto. Grazioso - attacca:
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 59 No.3: Allegro molto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 74 'Harp': Poco Adagio - Allegro
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 74 'Harp': Adagio ma non troppo
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 74 'Harp': Presto - attacca:
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 74 'Harp': Allegretto con Variazioni

Tracks:

String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 95: Allegro con brio
String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 95: Allegretto ma non troppo - attacca:
String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 95: Allegro assai vivace ma serioso
String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 95: Larghetto espressivo - Allegretto agitato
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 127: Maestoso - Allegro
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 127: Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile - Andante con moto - Adagio molto espressivo
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 127: Scherzando vivace - Presto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 127: Finale
Great Fugue In B Flat Major, Op. 133: Overtura. Allegro - Fuga:
Great Fugue In B Flat Major, Op. 133: Meno mosso e moderato
Great Fugue In B Flat Major, Op. 133: Allegro molto e con brio
Great Fugue In B Flat Major, Op. 133: Meno mosso e moderato
Great Fugue In B Flat Major, Op. 133: Allegro molto e con brio
Great Fugue In B Flat Major, Op. 133: Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: Presto
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: Andante con moto, ma non troppo
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo - attacca:
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 130: Finale. Allegro
String Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op. 131: Adagio, ma non troppo e molto espressivo - attacca:
String Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op. 131: Allegro molto vivace - attacca:
String Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op. 131: Allegro moderato - attacca:
String Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op. 131: Andante, ma non troppo e molto cantabile - Andante moderato e lusinghiero - Adagio - Allegretto - Adagio, ma non troppo e semplice - Allegretto
String Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op. 131: Presto - Molto poco adagio - attacca:
String Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op. 131: Adagio quasi un poco andante - attacca:
String Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op. 131: Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 132: Assai sostenuto - Allegro
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 132: Allegro ma non tanto
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 132: Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenden an die Gottheit, in der lydischen Tonart. Molto adagio - Neue Kraft fuhlend. Andante - Molto adagio - Andante - Molto adagio. Mit innigster Empfindung
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 132: Alla marcia, assai vivace - Piu allegro - attacca:
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 132: Allegro appassionato
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 135: Allegretto
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 135: Vivace
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 135: Lento assai e cantante tranquillo
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 135: Der schwer gefaBte EntschluB. Grave (MuB es sein?) - Allegro (Es muB sein!) - Grave, ma non troppo tratto - Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Technically flawless, but lacking emotionally.......2007-03-29

I recently rented a copy of this set from the library just to see how the Amadeus quartet managed it...I have some of their other recordings, including their Brahms chamberworks survey, the complete Mozart quartets, selections of Haydn's late quartets, and a great version of Dvorak's "American". Having thoroughly enjoyed their playing on these other discs, I figured it couldn't hurt to sample their Beethoven. Well, I should have known better...I disliked this set for the exact same reasons I enjoyed their work with Mozart and Haydn - the performances felt overly smooth and overall lacking in terms of feeling. A great example of this would be the opening movement of Op. 130, at about the 1min. mark, when the allegro kicks in - it just sounds calculated and contrived to me.

I feel this way about a lot of sections (Op. 59 no. 3, finale, Op. 59 no. 2 Scherzo, Op. 74 intro, many of the late quartets) - similarly to my criticisms of Quartetto Italiano - where the overly glossy sheen detracts from the inherent conflict in the works, especially in the middle quartets. That being said, this approach really helps for the 6 quartets Op. 18, these actually being the best renditions I've heard.

One positive note amidst my criticisms: Beethoven's musical architecture is clearly audible here and very transparent (unlike Italiano, who sacrifice symmetry in favor of warm, genial sound). Still, if you are buying this set for the famous Middle and Late quartets, there are numerous better options available to you: the Takacs quartet (amazing), Talich quartet (a great budget set-really a great set at any price), Alban Berg (a tour-de-force in technique) and the Lindsay quartet (not as techincally sound, but warm & passionate readings).

A note about recording quality: not great. The lead violin is at times obnoxiously whiny and overbearing, and the cello is very quiet, though still audible.

To sum up - these performances are a good example of the polished, smooth performances of the 50s - 60s, and are a good reference as such. But other ensembles have had far more insightful approaches to these masterworks than the Amadeus quartet did, such as the Budapest quartet readings (also older recordings). Not bad as a budget set, but there are better alternatives out there.

Charming performances, good sound, budget packaging.......2007-02-21

I have little to add to the positive reviews below. The performances are inspired. And listening on audiophile headphones with a dedicated headphone amplifier, I find the recording quality to be quite good, especially considering the age of these recordings. (These performances were originally recorded in the early 1960s.)

The packaging consists of a clamshell cardboard box containing the discs, which are in individual paper sleeves. There is a fair booklet of essays about the compositions. This is certainly budget packaging, but at least it doesn't take up incredible volumes of space to house the seven CDs.

As this CD set is currently discounted as part of Amazon's "classical blowout," it's hard to beat the value. Enjoy!

Stay away from this cycle.......2007-02-18

These recordings have aged very badly. These are the most terrible performances of Beethoven's quartets I've ever heard, played without any heart, and no respect for Beethoven's markings. Worst of all the DG sound quality is one of their most unpleasant, so dry and unflattering that the high violin is painful to the ears. The Amadeus Quartet should have stuck to Mozart and Haydn.

As another reviewer on Amazon.co.uk states:

"The quartets were recorded in stages during the early 1960's. As such, they do not stand up to modern state of the art recordings. This disappointed me. I wanted to have the glory of Beethoven wrapped in a sumptuous wave of audiophile quality. These are period recordings and you can tell. They would have been acceptable in their day, but not now. The sound is brittle and one-dimensional, lacking the depth and warmth of wooden stringed instruments. At times, the higher registers of the lead violin are penetrating and harsh. The cello is barely discernible and only makes its presence felt during bouts of heavy bowing. It is generally difficult to separate the four instruments, thus spoiling a major reason for enjoying such pieces. Recent listening to Radio 3's lunchtime concerts has demonstrated how these string quartets should sound, ignoring individual interpretations. Some discs are better than others, but overall fall well short of modern standards."

Here's what Gramophone magazine said of these performances:

"In Beethoven they were at their best in the early quartets, which had a freshness and unaffected naturalness showing them in the finest light. But, in retrospect, the same smooth approach to the middle and later quartets brings an element of blandness. The Adagio of the first Razumovsky Quartet is very beautiful on the surface, the playing undoubtedly concentrated, but one senses a missing dimension. There is surely a greater depth in the music than they discover, and the same comment applies to the opening of the Harp Quartet, with its dramatic strokes somehow sounding calculated."

This set contains some of the cheapest packaging around with cardboard sleeves that scratch the CDs. The box wears very quickly and can't be replaced unless you buy another set, which I obviously don't recommend.

Buy the Takacs, Lindsays, or Emerson versions instead, as they're in are class of their own.

Beethoven: The String Quartets.......2007-01-10

This is an affordable reissue of the Amadeus Quartet's classic recordings of the complete Beethoven string quartets. The music is essential to any collection of chamber music, and the performances of the late quartets, perhaps the finest string quartets ever written, are beautifully done. The performance of the A minor Quartet (opus 132) is especially moving. The quality of the recording is quite good for a budget-priced reissue, and the interpretations of the music by the Amadeus Quartet are outstanding.

Simply The Best Ever Recording of Beethoven String Quartets.......2006-02-16

I grew up listening to many different recordings of this acclaimed Beethoven Cycle. I have admired Alban Berg Quartet (live EMI), Tokyo String Quartet and Guarneri Quartet recordings, but the warmth of the Amadeus Quartet sound in this recording and their interpretation is truly astonishing. I recommend this to anyone who really wants to understand the depth and complexity of possibly Beethoven best compositions.

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