Beethoven String Quartets on record

[richardfinegold]

My first exposure to LvB's quartets was the GF, played by a quartet that I cannot remember the name of.

Wasn't until a few years later that I explored further - the late quartets by the Quartetto Italiano - marvellous stuff!

Recently, I bought the complete cycle by the Emersons - a band that are not popular on here!

I love the Emersons, really enjoy their late Schubert on DG, too.

Not sure how to explain it, but their playing is grittier? edgier? than others. It's that type of emotional connection with certain musics, that floats my boat.

I was listening to the radio yesterday , having turned on while the "Death & The Maiden" Qt was playing. It was a good performance that held my attention and I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be the Emersons.

[Beef Oven!]

I was listening to the radio yesterday , having turned on while the "Death & The Maiden" Qt was playing. It was a good performance that held my attention and I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be the Emersons.

An interesting 'blind' listen outcome, bearing in mind your previous experience.

[richardfinegold]

An interesting 'blind' listen outcome, bearing in mind your previous experience.

I ordered their set of late Schubert Qts & Quintet today.

[Beef Oven!]

I ordered their set of late Schubert Qts & Quintet today.

[Flay]

Is this the Italian Quartet's version of 132 mentioned earlier? It does sound delicious.

There's also a link to the Borodin's recording on that page.

[Dave2002]

Did the Hungarian Quartet only make mono recordings of the Beethoven quartets? I note that there is a 7 CD box set at a reasonable price on amazon - which has apparently been even cheaper, but it's mono - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-St...rian+beethoven Browsing through the site though I came across several LPs with the code HQS by this quartet - and a friend of mine had some of those back in the 1960s. I thought they were stereo - perhaps I was mistaken. Example - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hungarian-Qu...rtet+beethoven

Maybe they did make stereo versions, but they're not the ones which seem so well favoured. I'd like clarification.

[Bryn]

Did the Hungarian Quartet only make mono recordings of the Beethoven quartets? I note that there is a 7 CD box set at a reasonable price on amazon - which has apparently been even cheaper, but it's mono - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-St...rian+beethoven Browsing through the site though I came across several LPs with the code HQS by this quartet - and a friend of mine had some of those back in the 1960s. I thought they were stereo - perhaps I was mistaken. Example - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hungarian-Qu...rtet+beethoven

Maybe they did make stereo versions, but they're not the ones which seem so well favoured. I'd like clarification.

The later, stereo, set recorded in the '60s was included in EMI's "Beethoven: The Collector's Edition" of 50 CDs. By then the quartet comprised Zoltán Székely, Michael Kuttner, Dénes Koromzay and Gábor Magyar (i.e. new 2nd violin and cello) The '60s set is not in the same class as that recorded in mono during the 1953.

from http://thebeethovenproject.com/explo...hs-to-nirvana/ op. cit.

The Hungarian sets on EMI make a fascinating comparison. The mono is tightly organised and dominated by the cellist, a powerful personality; it is also noticeable that the Russian second violinist plays in a style different from Székely’s. The stereo set, with replacements in the second violin and cello positions, is more homogeneous – all the musicians coming from the same Budapest background – and relaxed. Unfortunately the relaxation extends to omitting exposition repeats which were played in the mono set, including the big one in the opening movement of Op. 130; but overall I love this set for its humanity.

[richardfinegold]

The later, stereo, set recorded in the '60s was included in EMI's "Beethoven: The Collector's Edition" of 50 CDs. By then the quartet comprised Zoltán Székely, Michael Kuttner, Dénes Koromzay and Gábor Magyar (i.e. new 2nd violin and cello) The '60s set is not in the same class as that recorded in mono during the 1953.

from http://thebeethovenproject.com/explo...hs-to-nirvana/ op. cit.

Fwiw, the stereo set has been my reference set. I appreciate Bryn's input on the personnel changes between the 2 sets

[amateur51]

If you've never listened to the incomplete set of Beethoven string quartets played by the Paganini string quartet because it's incomplete then take a deep breath and treat yourself. The five CDs are issued in a cheap box and are available to listen to in advance on Spotify. Great playing.

http://www.mdt.co.uk/beethoven-the-great-string-quartets-paganini-quartet-united-archives-5cds.html

Cheaper still from the tax dodgers

[Don Petter]

If you've never listened to the incomplete set of Beethoven string quartets played by the Paganini string quartet because it's incomplete then take a deep breath and treat yourself. The five CDs are issued in a cheap box and are available to listen to in advance on Spotify. Great playing.

http://www.mdt.co.uk/beethoven-the-great-string-quartets-paganini-quartet-united-archives-5cds.html

Cheaper still from the tax dodgers

I heartily endorse this recommendation. The set goes well with my favourite of all time for the Late Quartets (after the Hollywood, who are sui generis), its companion box from United Archives by the Budapest Quartet (mono 1950s Philips recordings, complete quartets):

http://www.mdt.co.uk/beethoven-complete-string-quartets-1951-52-budapest-quartet-united-archives-8cds.html

Also slightly cheaper from you-know-who, and with free shipping.

[verismissimo]

I picked up a copy of the Quartetto Italiano's Op 18 set recently and am enjoying it more than I can say!

How odd that a country with a rather limited tradition of quartet playing should produce such a top grade ensemble.

BTW their Webern is also outstanding!

[kea]

Apart from the Belcea Quartet (which I've discovered to include my favourite Op. 132 so far) another Beethoven find is the Hagen Quartett's Op. 130/133, imo one of the best-played and most successfully integrated interpretations of the original version of the quartet. Their Beethoven seems to be a bit controversial as they interpret him as "late Classical" rather than "early Romantic", which I happen to be in total agreement with, so I'll be checking out their other late quartets as well (also have their more recent Op. 135).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Their Beethoven seems to be a bit controversial as they interpret him as "late Classical" rather than "early Romantic", which I happen to be in total agreement with

- you, me and Robert Simpson alike! Beethoven's comments on the Music of Weber suggest that he wasn't exactly enamoured of the Early Romantic works he knew. Indeed, aside from Mendelssohn's Octet, none of the "concert" works associated with "Early Romanticism" were written until after Beethoven died - Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique the earliest, perhaps at three years AB?

Interesting to remember that when 16 year-old Mendelssohn wrote his Octet in 1825, Beethoven was starting work on his last S4tets! (And the Schubert String Quintet was three years off!)

[kea]

I do consider Schubert just over the fence on the Romantic side, esp the song cycles, but if one discounts him and Weber I suppose you're right.

(Personally I think "early Romanticism" started with CPE Bach, and "late Classicism" ended with Brahms >.>)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

(Personally I think "early Romanticism" started with CPE Bach, and "late Classicism" ended with Brahms >.>)

- Monteverdi?

I think such labels are more useful when considering artists' attitudes than their dates.