Our Summer 2013 BAL 21: Beethoven String Quartet Op 131

[verismissimo]

Another string quartet. Maybe this one will light more fires among boarders than the Berg.
Certainly one of the most amazing, forward-looking works of all.
Runners and riders?

[LeMartinPecheur]

Ooh, verismissimo, you are BOLD!

Isn't this the work above all others where the very idea of 'The best version' is most snare-ish and delusionary??

FWIW my own shelves gently groan under, in no particular order, the Busch, Hungarian, Amadeus, Italian, Takacs and Artemis 4tets. And as a completely illegal wild-card, a 4-instruments-per-part recording from IMS Prussia Cove c.1987 under Sandor Vegh, who surely should have known better!

It's the latter that would go first to the flames, though I'm a bit more tolerant of its coupling, a similar 'arrangement' of Op133.

The last? Either the Takacs or the Busch I think, with the Italians saved if the hands aren't too full of other precious discs. Which they would be of course

[richardfinegold]

I think we've discussed this work recently. My favorite recording is by the Yale Quartet. Another issue here is the original vs the string orchestra inflations of Bernstein et. al. I prefer the original because expanding it to a full Orchestra dissipates the sense of strain that the 4 lone string players labor under, and that sense of strain is part of the essence of the work.

[verismissimo]

I first got to grips with this work in the late 1960s with the Fine Arts Quartet on one of those Saga LPS with a certain amount of fish being fried. I thought it was amazing. Later I had the early Lindsays recording, which I thought top stuff - and heard that quartet play it several times live. Both of these are long gone.

For some reason I now have just two in my "library": the Amadeus from 1963 and the later Lindsays. I'll review both this week. But what I really want now is an excellent HIPPY version. Any nominations?

[makropulos]

I think we've discussed this work recently. My favorite recording is by the Yale Quartet. Another issue here is the original vs the string orchestra inflations of Bernstein et. al. I prefer the original because expanding it to a full Orchestra dissipates the sense of strain that the 4 lone string players labor under, and that sense of strain is part of the essence of the work.

I heard the Yale Quartet play Op. 131 live and was transported by it - but weirdly I don't have their recording and must get it. My own favorites include Busch, Emerson, Amadeus and Hollywood. But for a change I do relish Bernstein's recording of Mitropoulos' transcription once in a while - and it's good to listen to Lenny's favorite among all his own records.

[Thropplenoggin]

I heard the Yale Quartet play Op. 131 live and was transported by it - but weirdly I don't have their recording and must get it. My own favorites include Busch, Emerson, Amadeus and Hollywood. But for a change I do relish Bernstein's recording of Mitropoulos' transcription once in a while - and it's good to listen to Lenny's favorite among all his own records.

The Belcea Quartet give a superb rendition of this on their new discs.

Why is only Verismissimo recommending Summer BALs? I thought this was supposed to be open to all.

--

My suggestions would be:

Bach: Magnificat BWV 243
Mahler: Symphony No. 5
Brahms: Schicksalslied for Choir & Orchestra op.54
Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord BWV 1027-1029

[verismissimo]

The Belcea Quartet give a superb rendition of this on their new discs.

Why is only Verismissimo recommending Summer BALs? I thought this was supposed to be open to all.

--

My suggestions would be:

Bach: Magnificat BWV 243
Mahler: Symphony No. 5
Brahms: Schicksalslied for Choir & Orchestra op.54
Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord BWV 1027-1029

Do one next week Thropple.

[antongould]

Quartetto Italiano - still crazy after all these years.......

[BBMmk2]

Quartetto Italiano - still crazy after all these years.......

Not Paul Simon,then Anton?

[Petrushka]

The Belcea Quartet give a superb rendition of this on their new discs.

Why is only Verismissimo recommending Summer BALs? I thought this was supposed to be open to all.

--

My suggestions would be:

Bach: Magnificat BWV 243
Mahler: Symphony No. 5
Brahms: Schicksalslied for Choir & Orchestra op.54
Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord BWV 1027-1029

Yes to the first three of those. Verismissimo has been the only one to give it a go so far. Anybody can have a go, as I understand it, and some of our own BaL's are better than the original.

[Alison]

Have we ever done Beethoven's Fourth ?

[verismissimo]

Have we ever done Beethoven's Fourth ?

Neither us, nor on a recent proper BAL, Alison.

[Thropplenoggin]

Yes to the first three of those. Verismissimo has been the only one to give it a go so far. Anybody can have a go, as I understand it, and some of our own BaL's are better than the original.

Thanks, P., for the vote of confidence.

I shall instigate one of those on Sunday eventide.

[Alison]

Can we do the Fourth then please? I like it when Veri starts them.

[Thropplenoggin]

Can we do the Fourth then please? I like it when Veri starts them.

How bizarre. An open forum that seems increasingly closed. Adieu.