Beethoven: String Quartets Nos.14 & 15

1. String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Alban Berg Quartet , Valentin Erben , Thomas Kakuska , Gunter Pichler , Gerhard Schulz

2. String Quartet No. 15 in A minor ("Heiliger Dankgesang"), Op. 132
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Alban Berg Quartet , Valentin Erben , Thomas Kakuska , Gunter Pichler , Gerhard Schulz

Tracks:

Quartet, Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: Allegro con brio
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: Scherzo: Allegro molto
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: Adagio cantabile
Quartet, Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: Scherzo: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: Allegro molto quasi presto
Quartet In F Major (After Second Piano Sonata, Op. 14, No. 1): Allegro moderato
Quartet In F Major (After Second Piano Sonata, Op. 14, No. 1): Allegretto
Quartet In F Major (After Second Piano Sonata, Op. 14, No. 1): Allegro

Tracks:

Quartet, Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: Andante con moto
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: Presto
Quartet, Op 18, No.4 In C Minor: Allegro ma non tanto
Quartet, Op 18, No.4 In C Minor: Scherzo: Andante scherzoso quasi allegretto
Quartet, Op 18, No.4 In C Minor: Menuetto: Allegretto
Quartet, Op 18, No.4 In C Minor: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18. No. 6 In B-Flat Major: Allegro con brio
Quartet, Op. 18. No. 6 In B-Flat Major: Adagio ma non troppo
Quartet, Op. 18. No. 6 In B-Flat Major: Scherzo: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18. No. 6 In B-Flat Major: La malinconia: Adagio
Quartet, Op. 18. No. 6 In B-Flat Major: Allegretto quasi allegro

Tracks:

Quartet, Op. 18, No. 5 In A Major: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18, No. 5 In A Major: Menuetto
Quartet, Op. 18, No. 5 In A Major: Andante cantabile (Variazioni)
Quartet, Op. 18, No. 5 In A Major: Allegro
Quintet, Op. 29 In C Major: Allegro moderato
Quintet, Op. 29 In C Major: Adagio molto espressivo
Quintet, Op. 29 In C Major: Scherzo: Allegro
Quintet, Op. 29 In C Major: Presto

Customer Reviews:

Hard to beat........2005-12-14

Hard to fault the Tokyo Quartet in any way. Wonderful musicians in every sense. RCA's sound is perfection. And that Beethoven guy? Not bad. So you either like them or you don't. Which is what all these reviews come down to in the end. Personal preferences.

I think the TQ does a bang up job. I have their complete Beethoven cycle and listen to them all. Frequently. For me, their Middle and Late Quartet recordings are superior to this collection. Why? Personal preference. I prefer the Petersen and Prezak Quartets for the Op. 18. I also prefer strawberry-rhubarb pie to cherry. Just barely. Doesen't make me right in either case. It's so great to be able to listen to all of them. And the Emerson and the Takacs and the Lindsay (1 & 2) and the Talich and the Vegh. I don't want to do without any of them. I only wish the Panocha would do a Beethoven cycle.

Point is, you can't go wrong with any quartet skilled enough to record. You can only listen to as many as you can, as often as you can to develop your own tastes. And expand your spirit.

And 'fungicus'? Try the Petersen and Prazak Op18/1. For what it's worth, I like them better than the Vegh. How do you feel about strawberry-rhubarb pie?

Agree with previous reviewer except...........2003-07-12

The previous reviewer has nailed things down pretty well; I agree with almost everything he/she has said. Except the opinion about the Amadeus quartet! That ensemble's first violinist had a nasty, wicked vibrato habit, a trait that drives me up the wall. Other than that, the Amadeus's early quartets aren't too bad.

Then there's the Vegh quartet playing one of the early Beethovens. If any ensemble plays the Opus 18, no. 1 better than the Vegh, please let me know. The Tokyo is good, no doubt about it. But as far as Op 18/#1 is concerned, I say "forget it! The Vegh is tops."

Finally, yes, the Tokyo isn't too good in the late quartets. Kind of unfortunate.

Brilliant technique and understanding of early Beethoven.......2001-03-02

When at their best, the technical wizardry of the Tokyo Quartet is matched by at most two other ensembles, the Alban Berg and (maybe) the Emerson. The Tokyo has been criticized, rightly I think, for glossing over the profoundly introspective and emotional sections of the late quartets. Oundjian's excessive vibrato is also annoying in the late works. By way of contrast, the early Beethoven quartets are perfect showpieces that play to the strengths of the Tokyo Quartet: splendid tone and intonation, perfect unison, and the ability to turn on a dime.

Tracks:

l. Adagio Ma Non Troppo E Molto Espressivo
ll. Allegro Molto Vivace
lll. Allegro Moderato
lV. Andante Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile
V. Presto
Vl. Adagio Quasi Un Poco Andante
Vll. Allegro
l. Allegro Sostenuto - Allegro
ll. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
lll. Molto Adagio (Heiliger Dankgesang Eines Genesenen An Die Gottheit, In Der Lydischen Tonart)
lV. Alla Marcia, Assai Vivace
V. Allegro Appassionato

Customer Reviews:

Lyricism and Vitality.......2006-01-09

In the area of recordings of Beethoven's string quartets, there is an abundance of choice. Many of the world's finest string quartet groups have recorded of the full cycle of the quartets over the years. Having heard Beethoven's string quartets interpreted by the Cleveland Quartet ("CQ") and the Alban Berg Quartet ("ABQ") amongst others, I would say that each of the several outstanding groups whose recordings I've heard brings its own qualities to its interpretations of these works.

In the end, Alan Lekan says it best in his 01/14/2005 Amazon.com 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 my own case, while I prefer the CQ's recordings of the Beethoven string quartets, I also greatly enjoy listening to the ABQ.

The CQ's recordings are notable for the tight unity with which the musicians play together, while also providing a crystal clear differentiation of the melodic lines of each instrument. There is a sublime lyrical beauty in their playing and this quality, together with the rich and smooth fullness of their sound, that evokes the dark sheen of highly polished wood, is what distinguishes the CQ from the ABQ.

However, the ABQ is certainly not lacking in depth of feeling or in sensitivity to the lyricism of the adagio movements in these string quartets. Their sensitivity in performing the adagio movements is quite evident on this CD, from the first movement of String Quartet No. 14 (Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo), which has enough tenderness in this performance to melt one's heart, to the famous long (15:03) third movement of String Quartet No. 15 (Molto adagio), with its sweet lyricism evoking a heavenly, trance-like mood. The crystal clear sound of the ABQ's tone is very much in evidence in these movements, giving it an exquisite and plaintive quality that comes through wonderfully in all of the instruments: the violins, the viola, and the cello.

In the fifth and final movement of String Quartet No. 16, the Allegro appassionato could perhaps have been played with somewhat more passion. The ABQ seemed to be holding back a bit in this movement. However, this is a point of my own personal preference. This is still a five-star CD, with outstanding musicians giving a deeply felt performance.

If you can afford it, you may well want to buy both of the complete cycles by the CQ and the ABQ and enjoy listening to their different interpretations. Even if you have a preference for the sound of the CQ, as I do, and buy only one complete cycle, by the CQ, I would still recommend buying a couple of the individual CDs by the ABQ, in order to have an occasional point of comparison in listening to and enjoying two different performance styles. Since several of the ABQ's recordings of the Beethoven string quartets have now been issued on EMI's budget "Red Line" label, each individual CD, such as this one, is very low-priced and makes this a very feasible option.

THE Performance.......2004-12-22

I've heard several performances of late Beethoven, but nobody has come even close to what the Alban Berg Quartet does with these pieces. To me, they're the Pollini of string quartets: staggeringly good at the technical aspects of everything they touch, and much more emotionally deep than some people give them credit for. Their 131 is simply the definitive version, with utterly stunning attack and sense of rhythm, a deep lyricism and a VITALITY that sleepwalkers like Guarneri just miss completely. This is one to turn up so loud your ears bleed, lie on the floor in the dark and BASK to. They're no slackers on 132 either, and its third movement always leaves me tingling from head to toe. Recording is lovely as well, warm and excellent at capturing the quartet's glorious tone.

On the strength of this, I intend to buy the complete Berg quartets, and I expect it to be the best set I've ever purchased.

Great for the price, but..........2003-10-29

If you want to hear how the notes go together and get something of the feel of the piece, this CD is a steal at this price. It is what you would expect from Alban Berg--Precise intonation, metronomic rhythmic exactness, and an almost slavish devotion the the text. To me, that's just not Beethoven. Berg miss the boat in terms of interpretation. Beyond picking tempi that don't allow the music to come through, there is little rubato and there is not much shaping to the balance of the ensemble. Suffice it to say, the Heilige Gedanksang (one of *the* great string quartet movements) did not move me to tears, as Cleveland or Guarneri's does. If you can find it, get Cleveland. If you want to save money and see what the notes are, buy this.

Exquisite playing but there is something missing.......2001-02-28

The Alban Berg attack these two late Beethoven masterpieces with their customary intensity and technical polish. I particularly admire their scrupulous attention to dynamics and intonation. Follow the Alban Berg's playing with a score, and you will be amazed at how they observe every sforzando, crescendo, and accent (they also observe repeats, thank God). Few quartets that I've heard can match the hushed intensity that the Alban Berg attains while playing pianissimo.

With all of the "raw ingredients" in place, one would expect consistently great performances. Unfortunately, these performances are sometimes less than the sum of their parts, particularly in Opus 132. The quartet's famed precision is partly to blame, since it occasionally seems to get in the way of rhythmic flexibility. They observe an unrelenting metronomic beat, which makes for good playing measure-by-measure but makes it more difficult to shape those measures into phrases, sections, and movements. The beautiful slow movement of Opus 132 seems to end in the middle of nowhere, without a proper resolution. In the last movement, the first violin's opening "recitative" lacks the declamatory quality that it should have. What should sound momentous (and on other recordings, like the Juilliard and Concord quartets, it does!) comes across as perfunctory or, as an earlier reviewer put it, "sterile." Somehow, of the two quartets featured on this CD, the Alban Berg seem to respond much better to Opus 131, where they play with a warmth and lyricism that is missing from Opus 132. If I were to rate the two performances separately, I'd give five stars to Opus 132 and three stars to Opus 131.

pretty damn good for the price.......2000-08-15

This album is great in several ways. If you are looking for the essence of late Beethoven and the harmonic and thematic battles the composer was waging, this is an essential album. The Berg Quartet plays in a clean, Beethovenian style. I have heard recordings of the late quartets in which the performers try to turn Beethoven into Brahms. The Berg Quartet does an outstanding job at capturing the essence of early romanticism without moving outside the style of Beethoven. You won't hear a better Heileger Dankesang for the price. I highly recommend this recording.

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: String Quartets Nos. 14 & 16

Manufacturer: Boheme
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000058ARM
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Tracks:

Str Qt No.14 in c, Op.131: I. Adagio Ma Non Troppo E Molto Espressivo
Str Qt No.14 in c, Op.131: II. Allegro Molto Vivace
Str Qt No.14 in c, Op.131: III. Allegro Moderato - Adagio
Str Qt No.14 in c, Op.131: IV. Andante Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile. Theme With Vars
Str Qt No.14 in c, Op.131: V. Presto - Molto Poco Adagio
Str Qt No.14 in c, Op.131: VI. Adagio Quasi Un Poco Andante
Str Qt No.14 in c, Op.131: VII. Finale - Adagio
Str Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: I. Allegretto
Str Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: II. Vivace
Str Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: III. Lento Assai E Cantante
Str Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: IV. Grave - Allegro

Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 14 & 15

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Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 14 & 15

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000012W2
Release Date: 1996-12-05

Tracks:

Qt No.4 in D, Op.83: 1. Allegretto
Qt No.4 in D, Op.83: 2. Andantino
Qt No.4 in D, Op.83: 3. Allegretto-Attacca:
Qt No.4 in D, Op.83: 4. Allegretto
Qt No.11 in f, Op.122: 1. Intro. Andantino-Attacca
Qt No.11 in f, Op.122: 2. Scherzo. Allegretto-Attacca:
Qt No.11 in f, Op.122: 3. Rezitativ. Adagio-Attacca:
Qt No.11 in f, Op.122: 4. Etude. Allegro-Attacca:
Qt No.11 in f, Op.122: 5. Humoreske. Allegro-Attacca:
Qt No.11 in f, Op.122: 6. Elegie. Adagio-Attacca:
Qt No.11 in f, Op.122: 7. Finale. Moderato
Qt No.14 in F#, Op.142: 1. Allegretto
Qt No.14 in F#, Op.142: 2. Adagio-Attacca:
Qt No.14 in F#, Op.142: 3. Allegretto

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: String Quartets Nos. 14 & 9

Manufacturer: Calliope
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000027LRB
Release Date: 1986-01-01

Average customer rating:

Perhaps the definitive #15

Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 14 & 15

Manufacturer: Le Chant Du Monde
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Shostakovich: String Quartets 1-13

ASIN: B00004YU9C
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

Str Qt No.14 in F#, Op.142: I. Allegretto - Glinka Str Qt
Str Qt No.14 in F#, Op.142: II. Adagio - Glinka Str Qt
Str Qt No.14 in F#, Op.142: III. Allegretto - Adagio - Glinka Str Qt
Str Qt No.15 in e flat, Op.144: I. Elegia (Adagio) - Beethoven Qt
Str Qt No.15 in e flat, Op.144: II. Ser (Adagio) - Beethoven Qt
Str Qt No.15 in e flat, Op.144: III. Intermezzo (Adagio) - Beethoven Qt
Str Qt No.15 in e flat, Op.144: IV. Notturno (Adagio) - Beethoven Qt
Str Qt No.15 in e flat, Op.144: V. Marcia Funebre (Adagio Molto) - Beethoven Qt
Str Qt No.15 in e flat, Op.144: VI. Epilogo (Adagio) - Beethoven Qt

Customer Reviews:

Perhaps the definitive #15.......2004-03-08

This recording makes an excellent coda to the recent re-issue of the Borodin set from the '70s on Chandos. That set concludes with #13 -- the final recording by the original Borodin Quartet members. This recording of the last two quartets, from Czech Radio broadcasts of 1976, 1977, are by ensembles as closely associated with the composers as the Borodin Quartet. If anything, the Beethoven Quartet had the closest association, premiering most if not all the quartets, and recording the Quintet twice with the composer at the piano.

If you can find the Vanguard recording of the Quintet coupled with the Second Quartet, get it. I would also recomend the LYS recordings (LYS 369-370), a 2-CD set of performances from 1940, 1946, and 1948 with with Oistrakh, the Beethoven Quartet, the Tchaikovsky Quartet, Sadlo, Chafrin, and Shostakovich at the piano in the Trio No.2, 'Cello sonata, 3rd Quartet, and Quintet.

With the the Beethoven Quartet, a 30-year relationship with the composer invests their performance of #14 with a unique perspective, if not the last word in virtuosity.

Established in 1964, the Glinka Quartet disolved between the late 70's and 1980, the violist and the 'cellist emigrating to Holland, the two founding violinists remaining in the USSR. In Holland the two emigrants formed a New Glinka Quartet with compatriots living there. I can't help but wonder if the music of these late quartets was 'instrumental' in the breakup of the original quartet. How does one respond to such bleakness, such despair -- surrender or escape?

Beethoven: The Late String Quartets Nos 12-16
Average customer rating:

A colossal set!

Extraordinary recordings of the most beautiful music

Soul searching music playing from Lindsay Quartet

Incredible Performances

The best introduction to the greatest music ever written

Beethoven: The Late String Quartets Nos 12-16
Lindsay String Quartet
Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bethoven: String Quartets

Beethoven: String Quartets

Beethoven: The Late String Quartets

Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 8; Symphony No. 9

ASIN: B0000030PT
Release Date: 1993-12-18

Tracks:

Qt No.12 in E flat, Op.127: I. Maestoso-Allegro
Qt No.12 in E flat, Op.127: II. Adagio, Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile-Andante Con Moto...
Qt No.12 in E flat, Op.127: III. Scherzando Vivace
Qt No.12 in E flat, Op.127: IV. Finale

Tracks:

Qt No.13 in B flat, Op.130: I. Adagio Ma Non Troppo-Allegro
Qt No.13 in B flat, Op.130: II. Presto
Qt No.13 in B flat, Op.130: III. Andante Con Moto Ma Non Troppo-Poco Scherzoso
Qt No.13 in B flat, Op.130: IV. Alla Danza Tedesca-Allegro Assai
Qt No.13 in B flat, Op.130: V. Cavatina: Adagi Molto Espressivo
Grosse Fuge in B flat, Op.133
Alternative Finale To Str Qt, Op.130

Tracks:

Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: I. Adagio Ma Non Troppo E Molto Espressivo
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: II. Allegro Molto Vivace
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: III. Allegro Moderato
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: IV. Andante Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile-Piu Mosso-Andante...
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: V. Presto
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: VI. Adagio Quasi Un Poco Andante
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: VII. Allegro

Tracks:

Qt No.15 in a, Op.132: I. Assai Sostenuto-Allegro
Qt No.15 in a, Op.132: II. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Qt No.15 in a, Op.132: III. Molto Adagio: Conzone Di Ringraziamento Offerta Alla Divinita...
Qt No.15 in a, Op.132: IV. Alla Marcia, Assai Vivace-Piu Allegro-Presto
Qt No.15 in a, Op.132: V. Allegro Appassionato
Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: I. Allegretto
Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: II. Vivace
Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: III. Lento Assai, Cantante E Tranquillo
Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: IV. Grave Ma Non Troppo-Allegro (Der Schwer Gefasste Entschluss)

Customer Reviews:

A colossal set!.......2005-05-24

Keeping in mind these performances may be placed in a triumphant third place after The Budapest Quartet (in their forties) and Vegh (both performances from the fifties and early seventies) that is by itself an extraordinary ackonwledgement for that ensamble.
The articulated voices and the rhythmic pulsations is first order, the Beethovenian harsh dissonances are expressed with absolute conviction and artistic commitment.
Highly recommended.

Extraordinary recordings of the most beautiful music.......2001-10-25

I rate Beetoven's late quartets as the most beautiful music ever written. Especially, I'm fond of op 131. Lindsays and Vegh like none else capture the moment in this music bringing the true soul of Beethoven to us. Like one other reviewer said : I am more happy person because I know Beethoven's late quartets and Lindsays. I trully agree with that.

Soul searching music playing from Lindsay Quartet.......2001-06-03

Most beautiful music making from the Lindsays. They get much closer to the heart & soul of Beethoven than Alban Berg Quartett. The playing is spacious & warmly recorded.

Incredible Performances.......2000-04-02

I have several versions of the Beethoven Late Quartets including the Alban Berg and Guarneri sets. The Lindsays are the ones I keep playing however. Their interpretations bring extra depth to these profound works. These works require repeated listenings so that one can begin to hear and grasp the sublime wonders that lie within. The Lindsays help illuminate the road to discovery, as they seem to understand all the nuances. The natural tempos, the conversations amongst the players and the musicality that is inherent in each phrase make for a rewarding experience. Highly recommended!

The best introduction to the greatest music ever written.......1999-05-03

The Lindsays bring you into the special world of late Beethoven like no other ensemble. I'd agree with the previous reviewer that they aren't technically perfect. But listen to the striving sonorities of the Grosse Fuge, of the throbbing emotions of the Cavatina in Op. 130, or the joyful finale of Op.135, and see if you complain. The Lindsays introduced me to late Beethoven many years ago, and I'm still waiting to hear any greater expression of the human spirit.

Shostakovich - String Quartets Nos. 14, 15 - Beethoven Quartet (CD)

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Shostakovich - String Quartets Nos. 14, 15 - Beethoven Quartet (CD)

Manufacturer: Melodiya
ProductGroup: Classical
Binding: Audio CD
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Shostakovich - String quartets Nos. 11, 12, 13 - Beethoven Quartet (CD)

ASIN: B000LSKMFE

Product Description

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) String Quartet No. 14 in F sharp major, Op. 142 1. Allegretto 2. Adagio 3. Allegretto String Quartet No. 15 in E flat minor, Op. 144 4. Elegy. Adagio 5. Serenade. Adagio 6. Intermezzo. Adagio 7. Nocturne. Adagio 8. Funeral March. Adagio molto 9. Epilogue. Adagio The Beethoven String quartet: Dmitry Tsyganov, 1st violin; Nikolai Zabavnikov, 2nd violin; Fedor Druzhinin, viola; Sergey Shirinsky, cello On tracks 4-9 Yevgeny Altman replaced Shirinsky Recorded in 1974 (1-3), January 22nd, 1975 (4-9)

Average customer rating:

The Capet Quartet's Sublime Late Beethoven
An old, but wonderful performances!

Beethoven: String Quartets Nos. 14 & 15

Manufacturer: Biddulph Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000001ZF9
Release Date: 1995-08-01

Amazon.com

The opening moments of this disc demonstrate exactly what you're going to get: some crunching-from-shellac surface noise, above which is the most expressive, heartrendingly poignant string playing you will ever hear. Not all of this disc is plagued with noise, but all of it is played with overwhelmingly intense expression. There was a reason why the Capet Quartet was so revered in the 1920s, and I'd put up with a lot worse sound than this disc has (actually it's not all that bad) to hear such memorable performances. The very long timing (78:00) in another benefit. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

The Capet Quartet's Sublime Late Beethoven.......2005-05-10

Amazon's Leslie Gerber and the other reviewer here have really hit the nail on the head: these are simply sublime readings. No matter what other versions you may have, these ethereal performances should be heard and treasured. The sound is old (1927/28) but these readings handily transcend the sonics. Intense spirituality, purity of tone, and delicate rhythmic pulse are just a few of the Capet's outstanding attributes. What a tragedy that the group's leader Lucien Capet died in 1928, thus ending what might have been a far lengthier series of superb chamber recordings.

Highest recommendation: out of print, but worth the search.

An old, but wonderful performances!.......2000-01-18

How in the world that these remarkable performances are out of print? There are so many worthless performances in the market that does not meausre up nowhere near the achievement of this group. The Capet Quartet was a magnificent group who played with great intensity and spirituality. Their performance of No.15 surpasses even the classic Busch Quartet in terms of other-worldly serenity. And Capet's playing of the recitative has a most heart-wrentching quality (and he is the only one who really plays the passage like a vocal recitative). They also achieve an organ-like texture in the slow movement of the No.15, without vibrato. No.14 is no less extraordinary. The recorded sound will not please people who are used to hearing a clean, scratchless recording, but if one loves these works, this CD should be a required listening.