Allegretto quasi Allegro, String Quartet No. 74, String Quartet No. A great recording of the greatest string quartets by a lesser known quartet group. They clearly view these early works as bold and innovative, emphasising the brusque and fiery nature of Beethoven’s writing. I frankly don't hear that. It has clarity of sound (comparing the violin 'twiddles' in the 3rd movement of Op. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Where have they been all my life? Never heard of the Alexander String Quartet before reading a few rave reviews and decided to give 'em a try. First of all, I agree with the previous reviewer who said that these CDs might be the best sounding music he owns. 130. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2015. I have never studied music, other than in elementary grades. 18 set and the trailblazing late quartets, but it seems to me that the Alexander get it right, or mostly so, throughout the complete sixteen quartets. I already owned the highly praised Emerson Quartet cycle (see my review) and had been pretty disappointed with it. Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2000. Their attention to detail makes their performances a joy to listen to over and over again. They play softly a lot--and I find that refreshing and intriguing. One of the big ironies of string quartets is how they are considered inaccessible by people. These pieces are thus, so to speak, quartets that left their powered wigs in the dressing room. I bought the Tokyo Quartet's latest recording recently of the late quartets and wasn't quite won over by it. Australian Chamber Orchestra to host digital residency at Barbican with didgeridoo player William Barton, Saint-Sa‘ns, Franaix, Soulage, Boutry & Milhaud. For an example, listen to their recorded finale of the A-Minor Quartet, Op. But by striving for more, they asserted that the Alexander Quartet more often hit the Beethovenian heights and some even claimed that the Molto adagio from Opus 58 No. 59/1, String Quartet No. 3 seems a bit heavy, requiring a more playful touch. The proof is in the pudding, we're told. I can think of a seat on stage being comparable, but not by much as I can easily put myself there when I close my eyes. I finished listening to the later period string quartets (Op. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Introduzione: Andante con moto. Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2012. 74 and the F minor Serioso, Op. This is in fact the Alexander String Quartet’s second complete Beethoven cycle, the first having appeared a few years ago on the Arte Nova label. Ludwig Van Beethoven Complete String Quartets. The quality of the recording is not bad and the musicianship is outstanding. It's the true measure of their worth as an ensemble that the Alexander String Quartet rises to every occasion the score sends their way. 135, String Quartet No. The big seller for most people is the length of the average string quartet. The transitions from one instrument to another are often unpolished and missing the 'dialogue' feeling. At the same time, it is of a quality such that any aficionado looking for a complete set would be hard pressed to find one better. But by striving for more, they asserted that the Alexander Quartet more often hit the Beethovenian heights and some even claimed that the Molto adagio from Opus 58 No. Truly outstanding traversal of the cycle; great playing and sound; gripping interpretations, Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2014. What's especially gratifying to hear is not only are they technically proficient, they are also able to handle the challenge of dealing with the increased diversity of emotion as the pieces progress. 95, 3. So, I bought this set of Beethoven's complete string quartets. Never heard of the Alexander String Quartet before reading a few rave reviews and decided to give 'em a try. The Alexander String Quartet's recording of Ludwig Van Beethoven Compete String Quartets is the ideal package for those looking to find a means of introducing themselves to the work of Beethoven. The ideal package for those looking to find a means of introducing themselves to the work of Beethoven. Now I want to see what string quartets they have performed by Haydn. And the notes in the set are wonderful. It's worth that and more. 18 set. You can't go wrong here. You can unsubscribe at any time. 8 in E minor ("Rasumovsky 2"), Op. 18/4, 2. There’s no glancing over the shoulder at Haydn’s or Mozart’s styles; instead, the presentation is made in Beethoven’s assertive mode. Some of the tempo choices are odd, especially the sudden ritardandos, reminds me of Otto Klemperer's late performances, which very often ruins the inner coherence and tension of these great pieces. ), New Tech Makes a Virtual Ensemble Possible, 2021 Grammy Nominees Include SF Symphony, LA Phil, Young Artists Have the Cure for Pandemic Blues, The Improbable Rise of the First African American Opera Impresario, Zakir Hussain: Tabla Prince to Whom the World Listens, Davóne Tines: Wide-Ranging Baritone Set to Make His Mark at S.F. There's a problem loading this menu right now. This page works best with JavaScript. However I am not qualified to comment on the quality of the performance or interpretation. Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2014. 2, where they build up a really exciting head of steam with the seemingly relentless stream of dotted rhythms, or in the propulsive Scherzo to the E flat, Op. In many respects, the late quartets offer some of the most satisfying playing in the whole cycle. Arte Nova has brought it out in a minimalist but neatly done box with individual cardboard sleeves for the nine CDs with a program booklet that contains brief notes by the Alexander's violist, Paul Yarbrough. You can still see all customer reviews for the product. Perhaps no single quartet could hope to embrace every aspect of Beethoven’s work with total conviction, but of the competing alternatives the veteran recordings from the Quartetto Italiano on Philips come as close as possible to attaining this goal. The Alexanders have that "Innigkeit" in spades, which really makes their performances come alive. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. 18/6, 4. 74 - 135) in a day. Unlike a full orchestral piece, which can be as long as an hour and half and involve more than one disc of music at a time, each of the string quartets contained in this set only takes up half a disc at most. There’s a refreshing directness about the Alexander’s interpretative approach which is immediately evident in the Op. In my opinion, this is precisely how Beethoven's string quartets should be played, ie. Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2000. First of all, there aren't all those instruments playing at once, which can be truly overwhelming. The increased complexity of the music becomes obvious by the end, but the Alexander String Quartet makes it appear deceptively easy and they don't miss a beat in their performances, no matter what Ludwig throws at them. Arte Nova Classic records has provided listeners with pudding, via their release of Ludwig Van Beethoven Complete String Quartets, performed by the Alexander String Quartet. It is now available for a laughably low price. ", If that wasn't enough, woe to the performer who dared voice anything resembling a complaint over his Quartets’ increasing difficulty.