Beethoven: String Quartets, Op. 2

On this CD:

1. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2/2
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven

2. Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2/3
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven

3. Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2/1
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven

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:

The most exciting
Takacs Full Beethoven St. Quartets Review (part 2)
The Best so Far.
Excellent recording.
Even the Penguin Guide says they are alongside the best

Beethoven: String Quartets
Takacs Quartet , and Beethoven
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000063WRQ
Release Date: 2002-05-14

Tracks:

Quartet in F major, op. 59: Allegro
Quartet in F major, op. 59: Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando
Quartet in F major, op. 59: Adagio molto e mesto
Quartet in F major, op. 59: theme russe: Allegro
Quartet in E flat major, op. 74: Poco adagio-Allegro
Quartet in E flat major, op. 74: Adagio ma non troppo
Quartet in E flat major, op. 74: Presto-Piu presto quasi prestissimo
Quartet in E flat major, op. 74: Allegretto con variozioni

Tracks:

Quartet in E minor, op. 59: Allegro
Quartet in E minor, op. 59: Molto adagio
Quartet in E minor, op. 59: Allegretto-Maggiore (Theme russe)
Quartet in E minor, op. 59: Finale: Presto
Quartet in C major, op. 59: Introduzione: Andante con moto-Allegro vivace
Quartet in C major, op. 59: Andanto con moro. Quasi allegretto
Quartet in C major, op. 59: Menuetto (grazioso)
Quartet in C major, op. 59: Allegro molto

Amazon.com

Having toured the world with its Beethoven Quartets cycle as the old millennium entered the new, the Takács Quartet now commits some of them to disc. This two-CD set from Decca includes the three Razumovsky quartets, Op. 59, of 1806, and the Harp Quartet, Op. 74, sometimes known as the Lobkowitz after its dedicatee, composed in 1809. Although the latter's presto yields the fastest version of the fate motif Beethoven ever wrote, it is possible to go too quickly, as the Takács does here, making triplets of the first notes, which are not written as such. The speed of the dazzling finale of the Razumovsky No. 3 is impressive, but just fails to grip as firmly as a slightly slower, more controlled performance might.

On the other hand, the Thème Russe last movement of the Razumovsky No. 1 is a model of restraint, the playful parts entering from all angles with delightful measured precision, polished and perfect. The Takács' music breathes as if in a meditative trance the broad, shallow arch of the molto adagio, which lasts a satisfying quarter-hour in Razumovsky No. 2. The four play best what is calculated and intricate, like the theme and variations that conclude the Harp Quartet, giving each episode a distinct flavor. Variety is more important than usual on one-composer recordings such as this, and the members of the Takács Quartet prove themselves contemplative Beethovenians, who occasionally mistake the gallop for a stampede. --Rick Jones

Customer Reviews:

The most exciting.......2006-09-01

A lot of more or less perfect performances of the middle quartets are avaiable, but this is the most exciting. There is a price to pay for excitement, that is a lesser feeling of balance, of perfect architecture. For my part I happily pay that price, because to me, the middle Beethoven was very much about excitement. The master would certainly enjoy the playing of the Takacs. If this is your first set of Beethoven's middle quartets, you will hardly accept other; this is so exceptional.

Takacs Full Beethoven St. Quartets Review (part 2).......2006-08-27

This is the 2nd part of my full review of the Takacs string quartets. Part 1 is for the Opus18 Quartets and Part 3 for the Late Quartets.

I am a Busch Quartet Lover (as are the Takacs players themselves) so those quartets loom in the back of my mind as the standard against which other performances are measured. Since the Busch performances were loved against years of listening to many other quartets as well, it is high praise for the Takacs that I consider the Takacs often their equal, and on some occasions (op59 no3) even superiour.

The Takacs are certainly one of the strongest modern quartets, offering outstanding virtuosity in all 4 positions married to a large variety of tonal expression. They don't quite have the novelty and plain wierdness that the Lindsay's always manage to find, but are far more thrilling and precise in their articulation. Opus 59 no.2 in the old Lindsay set is one of their finest achievments in my opinion, yet the Takacs are as good in their more straightforward way. The wild fantasy and total uncertainty about what will come next that the Lindsay's manage turns into oohs and ahhs for the Takacs with their blazing virtuosity and martial power. Compared to the Busch Op59 no.2 however (currently out of print) the Takacs lack the unanimity of texture that the older quartet can muster. They also don't have the same authority of vision that Busch musters, which is especially evident in the slow movement, where the Busch always seem to find that perfect shade of volume and rythym to capture Beethoven's inspiration.

In fact, I would say that is the greatest weakness of this first Takacs Beethoven release (they recorded op18 next and late qs last). They often seem to just lose a grip on the deeper meaning of the music and substitue for it a repetative dimuendo to crescendo "effect", like they are trying to insert some drama that they don't find in the music. This "trick" mostly dissapears thankfully by the final set, but here it often rears up and betrays an emotional immaturity when compared to the Busch.

Nevertheless! This is not always so, and in my opinion they capture the perfect time and dynamics for the op59 no3 slow movement, that dreaded place where most quartets fall down. Their immaculate pizzicato and perfect phrasing even outdoes the Busch in my opinion, making it the best version available of this quartet.

Op59 no 1 is a very fine performance all they way through, more visceral and thrilling yet just as involving as the 1941 Sony Busch recording except, unfortunately, in the slow movement. Here, the Busch manage a rapturously sorrowful lament of dreadful passion that leaves you breathless. The Takacs come off rather badly in comparision, taking a quiet pensive approach that just completely pales in comparison to the Busch revelation.

Finally, the Harp quartet really sparkles under the Takacs, a brilliant virtuosic show yet never getting aggressive the way the Berg do for example. (No Busch perf on record for this quartet sadly). The uncommonly rapidly played scherzo is especially thrilling in my mind, though some reviewers have preferred a more measured pace. This is my favourite perfomance of the harp on record.

A wonderful set then, well deserving of all its accolades. Op59 no3 and op 74 are my two favorite recorded performances, and op59 1 and 3 aren't bad either, the painfully weak point being the slow movement of op59 no1 in comparision with the Busch. Hear the Busch in that movement and you will see why they are justly esteemed so highly.

Thanks for reading

The Best so Far........2006-05-18

This set is amazing. I have had the pleasure of hearing the Berg, Lindsay, Emerson, and Julliard string quartets interpret the opus 59s, and I must say that the Takacs outdoes them all. Before this recording was introduced to me, I had a deep affection for the Emerson and Julliard's recordings. That has most certainly changed now. The Takacs fulfilled all my preconceived notions about what these pieces require, and introduced me to much much more. The finale of the op. 59 no.3 is astounding (a term I would never use to describe the previous quartets' interpretations), and, in my opinion shatters the attempts of the Emerson's rendition - I'm not sure where Mr. Jones finds so much room to complain about the finale of the no. 3 - nevertheless he is wrong. The op. 59s as recorded here is a landmark recording and I promise it will be referred to as an essential interpretation for years to come. As for the "harp" quartet, I could talk forever about the amazing beauty which is reveled in this recording....but I'll spare you. All I will say is that it too is fantastically beautiful and should not be missed. Whether you are a native collector of Beethoven quartets or one just looking for the "right" first set, the Takacs will not disappoint - Strongly Recommended.

By the way, the case cover you will most likely be getting if you are ordering it new is the one pictured above by Mr. Frank Rust, not the one pictured by Amazon.com. Not that it matters, but I just thought I would let you know.

Excellent recording........2006-01-01

I own a few other complete sets (not including the Emersons, Alban Berg, and the Lindsays). I had always been impressed by the Italian Quartet. The Takacs play at the same level, but with better recorded sound. In retrospect, I don't see Takacs as that much of an upgrade (unlike some of the previous reviewers). However, for a first set, they would be my first choice, particularly if price is not an issue.

Even the Penguin Guide says they are alongside the best.......2004-12-19

The Penguin guide, which seems to like the Lindsays (as do I) says this set ranks alongside the finest. Less mistakes than the Lindsays make. Slower in some parts than other first rate quartets. Depth of feeling as good or better than any other version. Great sound.

Also good are The Italian Quartet and the Talich - but they both are older recordings that aren't quite as good as the two quartets mentioned above. But some still claim them to be the best.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful
Revolutionary Music Played To The Extreme
Excellent recordings
Superb
The way Beethoven would have wanted it

Beethoven: Late Quartets, Vol. 2
Ludwig van Beethoven , and Quartetto Italiano
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000041FM
Release Date: 1996-11-19

Tracks:

String Quartet Op. 131 in C sharp minor: 1. Adagio ma non tropp e molto espressivo - Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 131 in C sharp minor: 2. Allegro molto vivace - Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 131 in C sharp minor: 3. Allegro moderato - Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 131 in C sharp minor: 4. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile - Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 131 in C sharp minor: 5. Presto - Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 131 in C sharp minor: 6. Adagio quasi un poco andante - Beethoven
String Quartet Op. 131 in C sharp minor: 7. Allegro - Beethoven

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2005-01-20

A Great performance of these truly beautiful string quartets, I simply love this CD. These two string quartets that Beethoven composed in his latter years are stunning and though every track on this CD is amazing the one track that stuck out to me the most was the third movement of the string quartet in A minor (op.132) the first time I heard this piece of music I was mesmerized.

Revolutionary Music Played To The Extreme.......2003-08-09

The late quartets are undoubtedly the most revolutionary works Beethoven ever penned. Not only do they totally break the structural mold by having more than just four movements, they also introduce new harmonic, melodic, and contrapuntal techniques which Beethoven uses to elicit extremes in emotion, the likes of which music had previously never experienced. Beethoven said of his late quartets that they were not meant for his time but rather another time. Perhaps now is that time. We have come to an age where we can finally begin to understand the emotion and sentiment that this music is infused with, and we can finally appreciate these masterpieces that his contemporaries viewed as nothing more than the last attempts of a deaf man to keep his legacy alive. These quartets are simply spectacular, and the Quarteto Italiano do an incredible job of playing these masterpieces. They play the music immaculately and they bring for the emotional extremes that Beethoven intended. The playing is really just perfect. I guess the one issue with these recordings is that they're from the 1970s, which means that there is a slight balance issue (as with all recordings of the era) in that the treble is slightly more emphasized than the ever important bass. However, this is a minor blemish and is not enough to detract from the overall good sound quality and the exceptional playing. This is a recommended CD, as is its sister CD, which features the incredible Grosse Fuge.

Excellent recordings.......2002-12-06

I agree with the other reviewers. These are exceptional performances and the sound quality is quite good. Just listen to the excerpts and you will hear how beautiful they sound. Beethoven would be proud of these performers.

Superb.......2002-06-18

I first purchased these performances of the late quartets on vinyl back in the early to mid 1970's. I have listened to these wonderful performances many times over the years, and I just don't get tired of them. I have four of five other versions of the Beethoven quartets, and certainly, there are other great recordings of these works, but for clarity, precsion, attack, pesuasive power, sheer beauty of sound, I just keep coming back to the QI. At a cost of two CD's for the price of one, this is a terrific deal on arguably the best version of these quartets ever recorded. I can't think of any reason not to purchase this -- except that you can buy a boxed set of all the quartets for about [price].

The way Beethoven would have wanted it.......2002-03-08

One of the truly amazing recordings of one of Beethoven's greatest works. The quartet plays with simplicity, eloquence and with a lyrical tone that few can hope to match. Each of the movements is carefully crafted, and the playing is a window into the composer's soul, as also the wonderful interplay between the members of the quartets. I especially love the adagio, where each theme is a shining gem; these players imbue it with a brilliance that makes me breathless for more.

Average customer rating:

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

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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: "Razumovsky" Quartets, Op. 59 [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

The renewed Tokyp Qt. is better than ever
Silken sound, polished playing

Beethoven: "Razumovsky" Quartets, Op. 59 [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Beethoven: Complete Sonatas & Variations [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B000BRFACA
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Tracks:

Allegro
Allegretto Vivace E Sempre Scherzando
Adagio Molto E Mesto
Theme Russe: Allegro
Allegro
Molto Adagio
Allegretto
Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Introduzione: Andante Con Moto - Allegro Vivace
Andante Con Moto Quasi Allegretto
Menuetto: Grazioso
Finale: Allegro Molto

Customer Reviews:

The renewed Tokyp Qt. is better than ever.......2007-01-15

I hipe these new recordings of the three Rasumovsky Quartets find an enthusiastic audience. After the retirement of first violinist Peter Oundjian from an injury, the Tokyo Qt. went through a transition, but they have emerged sounding better than ever, particularly in these well recorded CDs. Always known for tonal beauty and pinpoint ensemble, the Tokyp has qcquired more maturity and depth while retaining a romantic stance that's a little old-fashioned. Their expressivity stands in marked contrast to the steel polish of the Emersons and the too-fierce attack of the Takacs (now going thourhg a transition with a new violist).

I was going to write a comparative article on the Rasumovsky sets from seven different groups, but in the end I didn't have enough praise for the Guarneri, Takacs, Juilliard, or Emerson performances. For real depth and tonal beauty combined, I favor the Alban Berg over all comers. For Middle European solidity at a bargain price, the Kodaly Qt. on Naxis is quite good. For Russian musicianship at its finest, the Borodins are wonderful despite absurdly over-resonant recordings that make them sound biger than life. the new Tokyp set is right up there, however. For me, these are the best new Rasumovskys in decades.

Silken sound, polished playing.......2006-09-08

The Tokyo quartet, now restaffed since its original cycle of the Beethoven quartets, gives a silky, elegant performance of the Razoumovsky quartets on this 2-CD set. I really wallow in the sound, especially in the opening of Op. 59, no. 1, where the cello solo gratifyingly reaches into the deep dark colors of the cello and resonates. Bravo! No one can touch this except the Quartetto Italiano. Otherwise, there is a little more restraint, emotionally, than I like with these very romantic pieces. The Razoumovsky quartets are unrivalled for sheer beauty and richness of conception and sound. This recording is more memorable for its clean, elegant qualities than for any new realization of the pieces or distinctive emotional insight. Still, if you relish the sound of super audio CDs (and these are hybrid discs you can play on any CD player - I tried it), you will find these polished renditions are well worth the extremely reasonable price.

Average customer rating:

Great Recording! But who really needs another Beethoven cycle?
a fresh take on beethoven...

Beethoven: String Quartets, Op. 18
Miro Quartet , and Ludwig van Beethoven
Manufacturer: Vanguard Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000A1IOIO
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Tracks:

Quartet No. 1 in F major: Allegro con brio
Adagio affetusoso ed appassionato
Scherzo: Allegro molto
Allegro
Quartet No. 2 in G: Allegro
Adagio cantabile
Scherzo: Allegro
Allegro molto, quasi Presto
Quartet No. 3 in D major: Allegro
Andante con moto
Allegro
Presto

Tracks:

Quartet No. 4 in C Minor: Allegro ma non tanto
Andante scherzoso quasi Allegretto
Menuetto: Allegro
Allegro
Quartet No. 5 in A Major: Allegro
Menuetto
Andante cantabile
Allegro
Quartet No. 6 in B-flat Major: Allegro con brio
Adagio ma non troppo
Scherzo: Allegro
La Malinconia: Adagio Allegretto quasi Allegro

Album Description

Beethoven's complete early string quartets, Opus 18, performed by the Miro Quartet.

Customer Reviews:

Great Recording! But who really needs another Beethoven cycle?.......2005-12-11

The Miro Quartet certainly brings the noise on this excellent recording of the opus 18 quartets. That being said, while they are great pieces, I'm tired of the opus 18 quartets. I'm looking forward to their late quartets, as you know that they will do a lot more than merely phone in the funk on the Grosse Fugue.

a fresh take on beethoven..........2005-10-09

I initially found it a little strange that of all the string quartet literature available, the Miro had decided on the Beethoven op. 18 SQs. There have already been so many recordings, but somehow the quartet has managed to convince even me, not a huge fan of Beethoven in general, into loving these works. Miro plays with a kind of freakish technical accuracy (even in live performance), but still brings a huge palette of colors and fresh musical ideas to these often recorded and performed quartets. Pay special attention to No. 1 and No. 4.

I highly recommend seeing them play live (as I'm sure Beethoven will make up a staple of their rep for the year), just to see the commanding, yet approachable presence they have as a group on the stage. For students especially, it's a great lesson in chamber music without ever picking up your instrument! All in all, the new CD is a gem, but coming from Miro, I wouldn't expect anything less.

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

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Beethoven: The Violin Sonatas
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Brahms: Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets
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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.

Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 14: Misc. Chamber Works

Average customer rating:

The "Unknown" Beethoven...
Simply Delightful!
Brilliant if sometimes odd rhythm and tempo

Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 14: Misc. Chamber Works

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Septets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 9: Piano Trios
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 11: Early String Quartets

ASIN: B000001GZH
Release Date: 1997-12-09

Tracks:

No. 1 In E Flat Major: 1. Adagio assai - attacca - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 1 In E Flat Major: 2. Allegro con spirito - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 1 In E Flat Major: 3. Tema. Cantabile - Variazioni I-VI - Tema. Allegretto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 2 In D Major: 1. Allegro moderato - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 2 In D Major: 2. Andante con moto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 2 In D Major: 3. Rondo. Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 3 In C Major: 1. Allegro vivace - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 3 In C Major: 2. Adagio con expressione - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 3 In C Major: 3. Rondo. Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

Trio For Piano, Flute, And Bassoon In G Major: 1. Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Trio For Piano, Flute, And Bassoon In G Major: 2. Adagio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Trio For Piano, Flute, And Bassoon In G Major: 3. Tema andante con Variazioni - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sonata For Piano And Horn In F Major: 1. Allegro moderato - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sonata For Piano And Horn In F Major: 2. Poco Adagio, quasi Andante - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sonata For Piano And Horn In F Major: 3. Rondo. Allegro moderato - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sextet For 2 Horns, 2 Violins, Viola And Cello In E Flat Major: 1. Allegro con brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sextet For 2 Horns, 2 Violins, Viola And Cello In E Flat Major: 2. Adagio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sextet For 2 Horns, 2 Violins, Viola And Cello In E Flat Major: 3. Rondo. Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

Quintet For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn And Bassoon In E Flat Major: 1. Grave - Allegro, ma non troppo
Quintet For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn And Bassoon In E Flat Major: 2. Andante cantabile
Quintet For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn And Bassoon In E Flat Major: 3. Rondo. Allegro, ma non troppo
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 1. Entrada. Allegro
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 2. Tempo ordinario d'un Minuetto
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 3. Allegro molto
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 4. Andante con Variazioni
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 5. Allegro scherzando e vivace
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 6. Adagio - Allegro vivace e disinvolto
Sonatina In C Minor: Adagio
Adagio In E Flat Major: Adagio (ma non troppo)
Sonatine In C Major: Allegro
Variations In D Major

Tracks:

Trio For Piano Clarinet And Cello In B Flat Major: 1. Allegro con brio
Trio For Piano Clarinet And Cello In B Flat Major: 2. Adagio
Trio For Piano Clarinet And Cello In B Flat Major: 3.Tema. 'Pria ch'io l'impegno'. Allegretto - Allegro
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major: 1. Adagio - Allegro con brio
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major:: 2. Adagio cantabile
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major:: 3. Tempo di Menuetto
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major: 4. Tema. Andante con Variazioni
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major: 5. Scherzo. Allegro molto e vivace
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major: 6. Andante con moto alla Marcia - Presto
Fugue For String Quintet In D Major: Allegretto

Tracks:

Quintet For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello In C Major: I. Allegro
Quintet For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello In C Major: II. Adagio molto espressivo
Quintet For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello In C Major: III. Scherzo. Allegro
Quintet For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello In C Major: IV. Presto
Prelude And Fugue For 2 Violins And Cello In E Minor: Praeludium
Prelude And Fugue For 2 Violins And Cello In E Minor: Fuge
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 1 In E Flat Major
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 2 In G Major
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 3 In C Major
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 4 In F Major
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 5 In D Major
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 6 In G Major
Duet For Viola And Cello In E Flat Major: Allegro
Duet For Viola And Cello In E Flat Major: Allegretto
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 1 In D Major
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 2 In D Major
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 3 In D Major
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 4 In D Minor
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 5 In D Major
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 6 In D Major
Duet For Two Violins In A Major
Canon In A Major (Probably For Two Violins)

Tracks:

Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 1. Air ecossais: 'The Cottage Maid'. Tema. Andantino quasi Allegretto - Var. I-II - Var. III. Allegro - Tempo I
Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 2. Air ecossais: 'Von edlem Geschlect war Shinkin'. Tema. Allegretto scherzoso - Var. I-II - Var. III. Allegretto-Allegro
Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 3. Air autrichien: 'A Schusserl und a Reindl'. Tema. Andantino - Var. I-IV - Var. V. Adagio sostenuto, ma non troppo - Var. VI. Andante con moto
Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 4. Air ecossais: 'The Last Rose Of Summer'. Tema. Andante expressivo assai - Var. I-III
Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 5. Air ecossais: 'Chiling O'Guiry'. Tema. Allegretto spiritoso - Var. I-II - Var. III. Allegro assai
Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 6. Air ecossais: 'Paddy Whack'. Tema. Allegretto piu tosto vivace - Var. I-IV
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 1. Air tirolien: 'I bin a Tiroler Bua'. Tema. Moderato - Var. I-III - Var. IV. Allegro
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 2. Air ecossais: 'Bonnie Laddie, Highland Laddie'. Tema. Allegretto, quasi vivace - Var. I-III - Var. IV. Andante mosso, alla Siciliano - Allegro
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 3. Volkslied aus Kleinrussland. Tema. Vivace - Var. I-IV - Var. V. Adagio sostenuto - Tempo I
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: Air ecossais: 'St .Patrick's Day'. Tema. Allegretto scherzoso - Var. I - Var. II. Poco adagio - Vivace - Moderato - Tempo I
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 5. Air tirolien: 'A Madel, ja a Madel'. Tema. Moderato - Var. I-II - Var. III. Maestoso - Allegro
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 6. Air ecossais: 'Peggy's Daughter'. Tema. Andante comodo - Var. I-III - Var. IV. Vivace
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 7. Air russe: 'Schone Minka'. Tema. Andante - Var. I-IV - Var. V. Andante moderato - Var. VI. Allegro - Adagio - Andante commodo - Poco vivace
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 8. Air ecossais: 'O Mary At Thy Window Be'. Tema. Andantino quasi Allegretto - Var. I-III - Var. IV. Un poco piu mosso - Allegro assai
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 9. Air ecossais: 'Oh, Thou Art The Lad Of My Heart'. Tema. Allegretto piu tosto vivace - Var. I - Var. II. Cantabile e legato - Var. III - Var. IV. Andante espressivo - Var. V. Vivace
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 10. Air ecossais: 'The Highland Watch'. Tema. Spiritoso e marziale - Var. I-II - Var. III. Piu moto - Var. IV. Adagio espressivo - Var. V. Allegro
Duo For Two Flute In G Major: Allegro con brio
Duo For Two Flute In G Major: Minuetto quasi Allegretto

Customer Reviews:

The "Unknown" Beethoven..........2005-01-03

I think it would not be wrong to say that most casual listeners of classical music know Beethoven mostly by his orchestral works--the symphonies, piano concertos, violin concerto, and overtures. Those who go a little deeper might know him by the piano sonatas, violin sonatas, and string quartets; however, this misses a significant portion of his oeuvre--and a major facet of his ethos and art: specifically, the chamber works and lieder: this is the "unknown" Beethoven.

This collection is absolutely the best, finest, and most excellent presentation of Beethoven's chamber works: the Horn Sonata; the Piano-Wind Quintet; the Serenade for Flute, Violin, and Viola; the Clarinet Trio; the Septet for mixed strings & winds; and the String Quintet.

Plus, some really nice esoterica: the early piano quartets; trio for piano, flute & bassoon; pieces for mandolin & piano; and pieces for flute & piano.

All of these works fall into Beethoven's First Period; yet, they must not be considered "juvenalia": Beethoven was the greatest artist/poet who ever lived, and his genius was manifest from his teenage years.

Simply Delightful!.......2004-12-23

This is a wonderful collection of Beethoven chamber music. The recordings are intimate, the musicianship is superb...the music is timeless. The piano concerti are the real highlights here; I don't think they can be any better, and the other selections are very pleasant. If you like Beethoven chamber music (and I can't imagine NOT liking it), then this set is highly recommended. Every now and then you come across a boxed set of recordings that you can listen to over and over. This is one such set.

Brilliant if sometimes odd rhythm and tempo.......2001-01-10

This CD, part of the magnus opus of Beethoven's works committed to CD is wonderfully brilliant and evocative of the renditions of the early 1950's.

Although there are the rare rhythmic, and very rare tempo peculiarities this must remain as one of the finest renditions of Beethoven's Chamber Works. This is of course to be expected from works produced by DDG.

Tracks:

Qt in F, Op.18 No.1: Allegro Con Brio
Qt in F, Op.18 No.1: Adagio Affetuoso Appassionato
Qt in F, Op.18 No.1: Scherzo (Allegro Molto)
Qt in F, Op.18 No.1: Allegro
Qt in G, Op.18 No.2 'Compliment-Qt': Allegro
Qt in G, Op.18 No.2 'Compliment-Qt': Adagio Cantabile - Allegro
Qt in G, Op.18 No.2 'Compliment-Qt': Scherzo (Allegro)
Qt in G, Op.18 No.2 'Compliment-Qt': Allegro Molto Quasi Presto
Qt in D, Op.18 No.3: Allegro
Qt in D, Op.18 No.3: Andante Con Moto
Qt in D, Op.18 No.3: Allegor
Qt in D, Op.18 No.3: Presto

Tracks:

Qt in c, Op.18 No.4: Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Qt in c, Op.18 No.4: Andante Scherzo Quasi Allegretto
Qt in c, Op.18 No.4: Menuetto (Allegretto)
Qt in c, Op.18 No.4: Allegro
Qt in A, Op.18 No.5: Allegro
Qt in A, Op.18 No.5: Menuetto
Qt in A, Op.18 No.5: Andante Cantabile
Qt in A, Op.18 No.5: Allegro
Qt in B flat, Op.18 No.6 'La Malinconia': Allegro Con Brio
Qt in B flat, Op.18 No.6 'La Malinconia': Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Qt in B flat, Op.18 No.6 'La Malinconia': Scherzo (Allegro)
Qt in B flat, Op.18 No.6 'La Malinconia': Adagio: La Malinconia - Allegretto Quasi Allegro...

Tracks:

Grande Fugue in B flat, Op.133
Qt No.11 in f, Op.95: Allegro Con Brio
Qt No.11 in f, Op.95: Allegretto Ma Non Troppo
Qt No.11 in f, Op.95: Allegro Assai Vivace Ma Serioso
Qt No.11 in f, Op.95: Larghetto Esperessivo - Allegro Agitato
Qt No.12 in E flat, Op.127: Maestoso - Allegro
Qt No.12 in E flat, Op.127: Adagio Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile
Qt No.12 in E flat, Op.127: Scherzando Vivace
Qt No.12 in E flat, Op.127: Finale

Tracks:

Qt No.10 in E flat, Op.74: Poco Adagio - Allegro
Qt No.10 in E flat, Op.74: Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Qt No.10 in E flat, Op.74: Presto
Qt No.10 in E flat, Op.74: Allegro Con Variazioni
Qt No.7 in F, Op.59 No.1: Allegro
Qt No.7 in F, Op.59 No.1: Allegretto
Qt No.7 in F, Op.59 No.1: Adagio Molto E Mesto - Allegro

Tracks:

Qt No.13 in B flat, Op.130: Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Allegro
Qt No.13 in B flat, Op.130: Presto
Qt No.13 in B flat, Op.130: Andante Con Moto Ma Non Troppo
Qt No.13 in B flat, Op.130: A La Danza Tedesca (Allegro Assai)
Qt No.13 in B flat, Op.130: Cavatine (Adagio Molto Espressivo)
Qt No.13 in B flat, Op.130: Finale: Allegro
Qt No.8 in E, Op.59 No.2: Allegro
Qt No.8 in E, Op.59 No.2: Molto Adagio
Qt No.8 in E, Op.59 No.2: Allegretto
Qt No.8 in E, Op.59 No.2: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: Adagio Ma Non Troppo E Molto Expressivo
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: Allegro Molto Vivace
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: Allegro Moderato - Adagio - Piu Vivace
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: Andante Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: Presto
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: Adagio Quasi Un Poco Andante
Qt No.14 in c#, Op.131: Allegro
Qt No.9 in C, Op.59 No.3: Andante Con Moto - Allegro Vivace
Qt No.9 in C, Op.59 No.3: Andante Con Moto Quasi Allegretto
Qt No.9 in C, Op.59 No.3: Menuetto
Qt No.9 in C, Op.59 No.3: Allegro Molto

Tracks:

Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: Allegretto
Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: Vivace
Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: Lento Assai, Cantate E Tranquillo
Qt No.16 in F, Op.135: Grave Ma Non Troppo Tratto - Allegro
Qt No.15 in a, Op.132: Assai Sostenuto - Allegro
Qt No.15 in a, Op.132: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Qt No.15 in a, Op.132: Molto Adagio
Qt No.15 in a, Op.132: Alla Marcia, Assai Vivace - Piu Allegro - Finale

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely top class.......2005-08-20

I really can't understand the previous comment about "period instruments". The instruments used for these interpretations ARE such:

Violin : Petr Messiereur (Peter Guarnerius, 1703)
Violin : Jan Kvapil (Laurentius Guadagnini, 1741)
Viola : Jan Talich (Laurentius Guadagnini, 1742)
Cello : Evzen Rattay (Stradivarius, 1690)

"Of course", this information is not available at the poor booklet that comes with the box.
I think this recording is one of the greatest around, right after the legendary Vlach and Vegh interpretations- which are, quite unfortunately, both rather poorly recorded.
This cycle is both finely recorded (analogue at its best) and fantastically interpreted- so it deserves 6 stars for the preformance and 2 stars for the package. The average does not sum up to 5, but I do give 5 stars, simply because a better compromise is simply impossible to find...

Very special.......2005-06-07

No doubt quite good interpretations. They are non the less also some of the most peculiar. That is perhaps partly due to the engineering, the ambience of the sound, but also to the playing style. This quartet sounds different from all other quartets I have ever heard. The bow on the strings often sounds very ugly, like somebody filing some metal. It is something feverish about it, at the same time something frail. It makes me think of sunshine stinging in the eyes. Suffice it to say that it is nothing fleshy about the sound of this quartet. Tempos are mostly brisk, the touch is light - in spite of the filing sound, which also can be described as a thin, withered, squeaky sound. Summa summarum: This quartet gives a so peculiar atmosphere to the Beethoven quartets that it is no point in comparing to other quartets, just as summer cannot feel like winter. This is summer. Summer heat, sultry, close, smoky, of barbeque or rubbish fire of withered leaves... I feel that these recordings are quite aristocratic, of very good taste, delicate, intimate. This has nothing to do with "old world", as both the Alban Berg quartet and Quartetto Italiano are (were?) "old world" and yet a far cry from Talich. I love to have this one in my collection, because it gives something not any other quartet gives.
Not my first choice, however, I would rather go for Takacs (op. 18), Takacs or Tokyo (middle quartets). To me, Tokyo rules when it comes to the late quartets, but that's me. I guess most people will prefer the Takacs quartet all the way, with the exception of the Quartetto Italiano congregation. Talich is something special, but very good as such.

Marvelous, just marvelous.......2004-02-11

There's no need for italics when playing Beethoven. The music will speak for itself just fine, and that's just the approach Talich has chosen. These guys are as good, technically speaking, as anybody but what stands out is how unassuming they are. None of that "look Ma, see how fast I can play" that we get from the Emersons. Anyway, this is the set for you. Yes, I've heard others -- Italiano, Budapest, Guarneri, and Tokyo -- and the Talich has them beat across the full cycle of 16.

Magnificent Reading of Challenging Music.......2004-02-05

I'm normally a period-instrument listener, almost to the exclusion of everything else. There is no complete cycle of Beethoven's string quartets on period instruments, so I hunted around for a good modern instrument set, and was directed to this one. I am thrilled with the result. The Quatuor Talich give a magnificent reading of this music, allowing the graces and nuances of Beethoven's sometimes fiendishly difficult music to shine through.

Two words of criticism--the cover for the box set has got to be THE WORST classical album cover I have ever seen--godawful Blake-meets-Stanley Kubrick garbage that belongs on an album of bad early-80s synthesiser music. AND--Amazon customers, be warned: I picked up this set at a local record store for $39.98 CANADIAN--that's $29.98 in the US at current coversion rates. Why is Amazon stiffing its customers by charging $55.00 US? This is supposed to be a bargain-basement set (as the bargain-basement cover will tell you). Please, Amazon, reprice this fine set now!

Warm, excellent performances.......2003-11-22

I agree with the 4 earlier reviewers. I've listened to a number of other highly regarded performances, including those from the Italian, Emerson, and Lindsays, and the Talich Quartet are the best hands down. I think that it's possible to get a feel for some of the best performances by reading reviews, but the only way to find the best performance for you is to listen to them yourself. The samples on Amazon do help in that regard, and still better is to be able to sample longer passages at a book or music store, etc. You can hear extended excerpts from the Emerson String Quartet at the NPR Performance Today website. According to the experts at NPR, the Emerson are supposed to be the best, but for my 2 cents they are way too rushed, and the Talich blows them away. But do your own due diligence.

Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 59, Nos. 1 & 2

Average customer rating:

Quintessential Beethoven string quartets!!!
Perfect. Period.
Second opinion
Wonderful performances, but somewhat harsh sound
If you don't know the Quartets, you don't know Beethoven!

Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 59, Nos. 1 & 2
Boris Kroyt , Joseph Roisman , Alexander Schneider , Mischa Schneider , and Budapest String Quartet
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Beethoven: String Quartets Op.59, No.3 "Ruzumovsky"; Op.74 "Harp" ; Great Fugue
Great Performances From The Library Of Congress, Vol. 6: Budapest String Quartet In Concert At The Library of Congress

ASIN: B0000027B3
Release Date: 1991-08-19

Tracks:

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

Amazon.com

Beethoven's Razumovksy Quartets are named after the Russian aristocrat who commissioned them, stipulating that the composer must include a Russian tune in each work. Anyone familiar with Mussorgsky's opera Boris Godunov will recognize one of these tunes as nothing less than the famous "Slava" chorus from the coronation scene. Otherwise the music is pure, middle period Beethoven, having that particular expansive lyricism and confidence that typifies contemporay works such as the Fourth and Fifth Piano Concertos and the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies. The performances by the legendary Budapest Quartet are outstanding in every way, and the price is rock bottom. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Quintessential Beethoven string quartets!!!.......2004-07-07

I also concur with the honors piled on these legendary performances. These recordings of Opus 59, No.1 & Opus 59, No. 2 are pure perfection, with a fiery intensity and a old world enchantment. Sure there is the occasional intonation slip up, but I find it rather charming and a simple reminder that this stuff is hard to play. In addition, you need not have reservations about the sound quality. In fact, I wish more chamber music sounded this clean and direct with not so much reverb blended into the mix. As one Amazon reviewer said - Enjoy the honest sound, the quality is marvelous. These are magnificent chamber works of Beethoven. There's also a companion Sony Essential Classics CD to this one (Op. 59, No.3, Op. 74 & Op. 133) and both are a must-have for any respectable LVB collection! Such great music at such a acceptable price. A no-brainer! Oh, and just for the record, Op. 133; known as the Grosse Fugue is the best version I've ever heard.
The Budapest Quartet never drop the ball on this one.
Treasure `em!

Perfect. Period........2004-03-10

Perfect is the only word that can describe this rendition. There's solemnity when it's required, panache when permissible, vigour when it's warranted - in short, "just as the Master intended". The first and last movements of op. 59 #2 of this performance moves one to tears. There's a fiery intensity combined with a sensitive understanding in all these performances that makes this a definite buy.

There's a certain je ne sais quoi about perfect renditions which makes it extremely difficult to describe their qualities in words. These particular recordings have that stamp of perfection about them - it's almost magic, the way the transitions between passion, delicateness, and blitheness are done.

About the music itself - the Razumovskys, I feel, are talked about less than they should be. #1 is almost a symphony, with the resolution in the final movement as perfect as any. #2 is dense, the buildup patient and painstaking, the scherzo wonderfully diverting, and the climax heart-wrenchingly passionate. This climax - mvt. 4 of #3 - is one of my top-15 pieces of music, if one may be permitted to maintain such a list.

Second opinion.......2001-08-13

I listened to it on another sound system and the recording was OK, not too harsh as I said... At this price you can afford to experiment!

Wonderful performances, but somewhat harsh sound.......2001-08-02

I agree with all the praise heaped on these performances, but I have some reservations about the sound quality. It is a CBS recording from around 1960, they seem to have been going for "brightness" - the higher registers seem boosted, with the result that the violin sound is harsh and gritty and the ensemble sound lacks warmth. Maybe the microphones were placed too close to the players in a dry acoustic. I have plenty of "historical" discs with surface noise, hiss and other defects, but none of them is quite as difficult to adjust to as this one.

If you don't know the Quartets, you don't know Beethoven!.......2000-01-12

Beethoven is known, of course, most widely for his symphonies, and then his concerti and sonatas. But he also wrote what is arguably the greatest body of chamber music on the planet, and that's saying a lot, with competition like Haydn and Mozart. But no other cycle in his work is more quintessential, more archetypically "Beethoven"-- than the string quartets. Written largely in three bundles, early on in his career, a the height of the most popular "Second Period", and at the very end of his life, they are the greatest cycle of chamber music ever composed. And just as the "Eroica" was the watershed of the Second style in his symphonic output, so the three "Razumovsky" Quartets of Opus 59 are to this chamber works. This disc has two of the three, Op. 59 no. 1 in F Major and Op. 59 no. 2 in E Minor. And what a disc it is! Some critics-- notably the Penguin Guide, never very sympathetic to the "American" interpretive style -- have been niggardly with their praise. But I find this recording the very best of these two magnificent works. Their concentration in the tense and terse E Minor is wonderful; their rendition of the F Major is, simply, second to none. The first movement -- a distinct parallel to that of the Third Symphony -- is rich, rhapsodic, wonderfully interpreted. And the second movement! This is one of Beethoven's most amazing pieces, a remarkable creation, like nothing else he (or anyone else) ever wrote: part scherzo, part sonata-allegro, part rondo, and transcending them all: a mercurial, otherwordly, kaleidoscopic piece of razor sharp wit, here played to the Nth Degree! There are other great recordings of these works -- one that stands out is the VOX recording of the New Hungarian Quartet playing the Middle Quartets, containing the finest available version of the 11th Quartet in F Minor, the "Quartetto Serioso"-- but this recording just has the edge interpretively as well as techincally, and is head and shoulders above many other much more highly priced renditions. A basic must-have for any respectable Classical collection!

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