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Beethoven String Quarets

8K views 44 replies 32 participants last post by  jalex 
#1 ·
If you were asked to recommend one set of Beethoven's string quartets (a set of recordings of all the quartets by one ensemble), which one would it be?
 
#2 ·
Navneeth,

You already know my answer to this one! :) The Quartetto Italiano......you just can't go wrong there.

However, I've also heard that the Alban Berg Quartet and Talich Quartet recordings are also considered top notch.

My Quartetto Italiano set of Beethoven's String Quartets are my most listened to CD's, my prized possession of all of my classical music CD's. Every listen to them makes me discover even more so how beautiful the music really is.
 
#3 ·
Navneeth,

You already know my answer to this one! :) The Quartetto Italiano......you just can't go wrong there.
hehe...yes, I knew that. :D ;)
 
#4 ·
Hi, ChamberNut!



Sorry, but I disagree totally.
The Quartetto Italiano is only able to do one thing: play beautiful - as you said it.
But the pure celebration of beauty doesn't satisfy the ambitions of Beethovens quartets.
They have a broad spectrum of emotions and tone colour.
In the Quatetto-Italiano-recording I miss the depth of emotion, the venture to "play against the human ear" (it's IMO necessary in the late quartets), the dionysiadic aspects,...

I recommend recordings like the ones of the Emerson Quartet (DGG) or the Takacs Quartet (Decca).
If these are too agressive and "wild" for you, try the Juilliard Quartet (Sony).
Recently a good and very cheap recording of the Guarneri Quartet is available (Brilliant Classics), which I would recommend to someone who isn't familiar with string quartets at all and doesn't want to invest much.

Regards,
AVH.
 
#10 ·
And people, how do you compare Beethoven's string quartets to his piano trios? Which are the better?

Personnally, I like the mix of strings and piano. It meshes all well.
 
#11 ·
Glad you asked Handel :) They are top notch! But, I would not say they are better. I personally enjoy and listen to them as much as I do the string quartets. And I am with you Handel, I really enjoy the mix of strings and piano. For Piano Trios, I have the set with Beaux Arts Trio for Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart and Schubert. :) Yes, I love piano trios ;)
 
#16 ·
Takacs quartet Beethoven

I've only heard a few different recordings of the Beethoven quartets: Medici (1-16), Quartetto Italiano (12-16), and Takacs (7-16).

The Medici was my first foray into string quartets and was a cheap yet good way to become familiar with all of Beethoven's quartets. The Quartetto Italiano recordings were better, and they began to bring out the true depth. Then came Takacs. I've stopped looking for other recordings because I love these so much.

I have heard a few played by the Emerson Quartet as well, but I don't own any. They seemed fine, but didn't affect me the same as the Takacs quartet.

Takacs recordings tend to be rather expensive, but there are very affordable (and legal) ways to purchase them, including mp3 downloads or yourmusic.com.
 
#27 ·
Thanks for the recommendation. I did not know these existed. I love Beethoven's late quartets (not too keen on the others), so I'm hoping these sound more like the former.

By the way, I bought the Tokyo String Quartet's late quartets back in the early 1990s, mostly because I saw them perform somewhere (probably Lincoln Center). The playing sounds good to me. Clear and sharp. And I know what the poster means about heavy breathing. Some is to be expected sometimes (especially if you are listening with headphones), but I've heard recordings where it sounds like one of the performers has emphysema. Very distracting.
 
#21 ·
Takacs, by far. There was a period when I was really obsessed with the late ("Serioso" and later) Beethoven quartets and at the time I worked at a library with a huge classical CD collection. There I compared a lot of recordings of the quartets.
I no longer remember the name of the other performers (there were collections from all the big labels, DC, Philipps, Decca & more) but I remember that Takacs was by far the best, they are extremely expressive but also very very tasteful and understand the music perfectly.
 
#22 · (Edited)
I've got both the Quartetto and the Alban Berg boxes and while I haven't heard these in a while, I remember liking the latter more...gonna have to give them a listen again!
Oh, wow...I just went through my stuff and realized I have pristine vinyl versions of the complete quartets by The Budapest String Quartet...I think I shall slooshy these first...thanks for the remind, tc
 
#23 ·
Emerson is pretty much the epitome of cold, overly fast playing. Exciting at times but often leave you as cold as their playing. The same can be said about Alban Berg.
Quartetto is the epitome of warm, slow, leisure playing. Not bad but when you need some drama and passion I find them lacking.
I prefer the ones that have a balance between these 2. Takacs is great although I found the breathing noises in it to be annoying. Amadeus and Guarneri are solid options too.
 
#33 ·
was wondering about these. i hope the cello is well recorded for a change
 
#37 ·
I'm surprised the Busch Quartet hasn't been mentioned: http://www.angel.org/busch/ Aren't they the ULTIMATE? Particularly for the Late Quartets. I'm dying to get this set in a good remaster. (If any one can make a suggestion I'm all ears! :))
 
#38 · (Edited)
I have had the Julliard set from 1964-70 for years (the gray box) and like it. I am fortunate to have it - I got it for next to nothing from the old BMG classical club and now it's selling used on Amazon for $250. I also just bought a cd set of 4 (including Op. 131) by the Vegh recorded in the early 70's. Kind of excited about that one given what I've read of their reputation - but it is coming from the U.K., so I'll have to wait a bit.
 
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