BaL 21.01.17 - Beethoven: String Quartet no. 12 in E flat, Op. 127

**richardfinegold** · 13-01-17, 11:29

I see that the recording that I learned the work from, the Hungarian Quartet, is download only. Their Beethoven Quartet cycle was widely available in the States when I was a lad on an EMI budget label; I remember borrowing mine from my school library. I purchased them on CD from a French web site several years ago and perhaps it's the first love phenomenon but despite adding many cycles in the interim I still prefer them by a slight margin over the Italians

**Beef Oven!** · 13-01-17, 11:31

Originally posted by richardfinegold View Post

I see that the recording that I learned the work from, the Hungarian Quartet, is download only. Their Beethoven Quartet cycle was widely available in the States when I was a lad on an EMI budget label; I remember borrowing mine from my school library. I purchased them on CD from a French web site several years ago and perhaps it's the first love phenomenon but despite adding many cycles in the interim I still prefer them by a slight margin over the Italians

Yes, I think sentiment has much to do with it - I opened the door on this music with the Emersons. They and the Italians for me.

**DracoM** · 13-01-17, 12:13

Italians yes, but for me the Berg takes some beating.

**vinteuil** · 13-01-17, 12:41

.

The Hungarians are available on CDs on amazon.fr -

http://amzn.eu/5w6zZbW

There are two Tokyo cycles -

http://amzn.eu/4hsC84d

.

http://amzn.eu/67n2aN4

Sadly one of my favourites - the Vlach on the praga label - seems to be unavailable

**Bryn** · 13-01-17, 12:55

Don't forget the ABQ DVDs.

**Bryn** · 13-01-17, 13:07

Originally posted by vinteuil View Post

.

The Hungarians are available on CDs on amazon.fr -

http://amzn.eu/5w6zZbW

There are two Tokyo cycles -

http://amzn.eu/4hsC84d

.

http://amzn.eu/67n2aN4

Sadly one of my favourites - the Vlach on the praga label - seems to be unavailable

The 1960s Hungarian survey were in the 50 CD Beethoven Collectors' Edition issued by EMI. I paid around £45 for the boxed set when it came out, then later got a second set for a fiver when it fell out of the catalogue. That second box is still in its film wrap. Perhaps I should put it up for sale on amazon.co.uk:

**silvestrione** · 17-01-17, 14:46

Oh dear, is there really so little interest in a string quartet, even a late Beethoven masterpiece?

I have the Busch and the Takacs, and it will take something special to convince me I need another.

**Beef Oven!** · 17-01-17, 15:37

Originally posted by silvestrione View Post

Oh dear, is there really so little interest in a string quartet, even a late Beethoven masterpiece?

Beethoven’s great, but he’s no Bruckner.

**Richard Barrett** · 17-01-17, 15:43

Hagen Quartett for me in the late Beethoven quartets (and Bartók and Janáček and everything else they play). Their disc of op.127 and 132 is brilliant in every way.

**ahinton** · 17-01-17, 15:51

Originally posted by Beef Oven! View Post

Beethoven’s great, but he’s no Bruckner.

Beef Oven!'s great and he's an expert on Bruckner!

Beethoven's also great, as you rightly note, although Mr Johnson will have only different versions of recordings of Op. 127 to survey rather than of the score itself; not only that, even those will not include a reloading by Peter Maxwell Marthé!

**Richard Tarleton** · 17-01-17, 15:59

Originally posted by silvestrione View Post

Oh dear, is there really so little interest in a string quartet, even a late Beethoven masterpiece?

String quartets comprise a good part of my home listening these days, and the late Beethoven quartets more than any others, just didn't have anything to add to the above! The Italians my only full set on CD, tho' I catch as many live and R3 perfs of Beethoven quartets as come my way, tho' all too often it's a Rasumovsky. I greatly enjoyed Edward Dusinberre's book on the Tacacs - a chapter on recording Op. 127, which made me want to investigate them further. I've been enjoying the Belceas from Vienna, repeated regularly on Sky Arts.

(I listen to less and less orchestral music at home these days, except Bruckner of course

)

**ostuni** · 17-01-17, 16:03

I first got to know the Late Quartets through the Vegh recordings (the stereo set): wonderful, eloquent, slightly fragile performances that observe a distinction which, for me, is a real deal-breaker in any late Beethoven (piano or string quartet): between pand pp.

Some years later, I grew to enjoy the powerful performances of US groups like the Yale and Fine Arts quartets. And when the Takacs recordings came out, I greatly admired their accuracy, flexibility, and sweep - but nowadays find them sometimes a bit hard-edged, and the leader's vibrato gets to me more than it used to.

The cycle which ticks all the boxes for me, as far as my present tastes go, is the Belcea. Again, real observance of all the dynamic markings and, crucially, an ability (and a desire) to use vibrato as means of expression rather than as a 'natural' element of string sound.

**aeolium** · 17-01-17, 16:47

I still have a soft spot for the Quartetto Italiano through whose recording I first got to know this work. I'd also put in a word for the Henschel Quartet which I think ought to be on EA's otherwise excellent list.

**ahinton** · 17-01-17, 16:58

Originally posted by aeolium View Post

I still have a soft spot for the Quartetto Italiano through whose recording I first got to know this work.

Same here, although I think that I had first heard it with the Guarneri Quartet. I'd love to hear what the Pacifica and Diotima wold make of it...

BaL 21.01.17 - Beethoven: String Quartet no. 12 in E flat, Op. 127

BaL 21.01.17 - Beethoven: String Quartet no. 12 in E flat, Op. 127

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