[vincula]

I've got the Amadeus (DG) and the Berg (EMI) at home. Generally, I prefer the later. Got some Guarnieri, Italiano and Julliard on vinyl too -and probably some others too. Oh my oh my! I wouldn't mind having the Guarnieri box, if I had to add one to my collection. Time will tell.

Regards,

Vincula

 

[mparta]

Hilarious on the Lindsays. Gramophone acknowledges their intonation problems, but loves them BECAUSE THEY'RE ENGLISH.

Things you can count on.

 

[Knorf]

I dislike the Lindsay Quartet cycle not only for their poor intonation, for but also for general sloppiness in many areas, and perhaps most of all for an ugly sound.

 

[Burbage]

I started on the Beethoven Quartets with one of the Talich releases, I have no idea which one, or why, but it'll probably have been whichever one had the 15/132 on it. It wasn't very long after CDs had become a thing, and I was living in a small town where everyone, one way or another, ended up sharing the tastes of their dealers, and the dealer in music had a very small shop.

And so, not least for that reason, I've happily enjoyed the Talich recordings for something north of a quarter of a century, and very nice they are, too. They might have their faults, but I couldn't say what they are, and I'm very comfortable with that, and so can warmly recommend them to anyone else who's been listening to them for 20-something years.

I'm sure there are more exciting recordings, but I'm not sure that's not because any recording that's unfamiliar is bound to be exciting, one way or another, whether through an altered perspective or (more often) the grinding of gears. I was sat upright recently by a recording of the 4th from the Emperor Quartet (on a mostly Beamish disk) entirely because it was different, whereas the reportedly passionate Takacs rendition almost entirely passed me by.

There is a fine line between music and performance, and it's (arguably) difficult to pay the same attention to both. And so I have to conclude that the best recorded cycle of Beethoven's String Quartets is the one I've listened to most. And the best recorded cycle of performances of Beethoven's String Quartets will be the one I haven't heard yet.

Which, as conclusions go, is annoying and opaque and probably a bit up itself. But that's Beethoven for you. And, for that matter, life.

 

[wormcycle]

I am not sure there is the best recording of Beethoven quartets:
- the most resolving, clear and exciting for sound quality is Cuarteto Casals and Harmonia Mundi.
- Takac String Quartet and Quartetto Italiano for emotion and musicality
- Emerson String Quartet, probably technically best, the most balanced execution
- Alban Berg Quartet for virtuosity

 

[perdido34]

The Alexander String Quartet recorded the cycle twice. The second cycle, on the Foghorn label, is beautifully recorded. I like many performances of this cycle, but theirs ought to get more attention!

 

[Merl]

The Alexander String Quartet recorded the cycle twice. The second cycle, on the Foghorn label, is beautifully recorded. I like many performances of this cycle, but theirs ought to get more attention!

It's well thought of here. It's certainly one of my favourite cycles.

 

[annaw]

The Alexander String Quartet recorded the cycle twice. The second cycle, on the Foghorn label, is beautifully recorded. I like many performances of this cycle, but theirs ought to get more attention!

I finally started listening to their late quartets. I've really liked their recordings of both the early and middle quartets so far. I was also sampling the Leipziger's cycle recently, which is one of my favourite cycles. They sound very full and rich, and they manage to produce an almost organ-like sound in the Op. 132 slow 3rd movement, which is absolutely sublime.

 

[Malx]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Alexanders first set?

 

[Merl]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Alexanders first set?

It's also very good but the Foghorn one is better and more immediate. The original Arte Nova set is still an impressive one, though. Also, that first cycle pops up on one of those enormous Beethoven boxes on Brilliant, if I recall. I'll check.

Edit: Yep, it's on this set with the Zinman symphony cycle

 

[Malx]

It's also very good but the Foghorn one is better and more immediate. The original Arte Nova set is still an impressive one, though. Also, that first cycle pops up on one of those enormous Beethoven boxes on Brilliant, if I recall. I'll check.

Edit: Yep, it's on this set with the Zinman symphony cycle
View attachment 146694

I have that box set with the Alexanders in it but have never listened to the quartets as I bought the box for the Zinman symphonies - I got the box for less than the symphonies on their own at the time.
I'll have to break them out and give them a listen.

 

[Itullian]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Alexanders first set?

I like it a lot.
Great sound

 

[perdido34]

I have that box set with the Alexanders in it but have never listened to the quartets as I bought the box for the Zinman symphonies - I got the box for less than the symphonies on their own at the time.
I'll have to break them out and give them a listen.

There are many fine recordings in that box, including not only the symphonies, but all of the concertos, the string quartets, and the string trios. Among the piano sonatas are fine performances by some people I'd never heard of (e.g., Yukio Yokoyama).

 

[wormcycle]

Changed my mind, I think that Quartetto Italiano set for Decca is the best

 

[staxomega]

I don't think I've posted mine to TC before, so here goes

Desert island picks:
Vegh (analog, stereo)
Budapest Quartet (mono, complete cycle on Columbia)

Other favorites:
Talich
Artemis (the best I heard in a more modern style)
Hungarian (mono)

Very good:
Italiano
Alban Berg (analog)

Looking forward to:
Mosaiques completing their cycle, even if their late quartets a bit too congenial, the period tuning and instruments are interesting

Universally loved (especially by professional critics, and I get it Takacs are supremely talented with flawless intonation) but eludes me is Takacs' cycle. For me this is just skimming the surface interpretations, I don't hear anything really probing or deep. I was not over the moon about their second cycle of Bartok either but I like it more than the Beethoven cycle. I do like their first cycle of Bartok quite a bit.

Of the Beethoven 2020 year releases Ebene were the best complete cycle I heard but I didn't feel an urge to immediately buy it and I still don't own it. They butched this in mastering by compressing the sound so everything sounds forward and in your face, a disservice to this great group. Kuss Quartet were uneven and eccentric. Casals' cycle was average, great performance of Piano Sonata 9 for string quartet. Not a new 2020 cycle but one that Melodiya reissued as part of Beethoven 2020 is the Beethoven Quartet, this is in my to listen to pile.

Now the late quartets are where most of my focus is and there are many exceptional discs of them, some favorites without listing each piece - Busch Quartet (Biddulph have the best sounding transfers), Brentano, Hagen, etc. Would die to hear Arditti record them if their Grosse Fuge is anything to go by.

 

[Helgi]

Of the Beethoven 2020 year releases Ebene were the best complete cycle I heard but I didn't feel an urge to immediately buy it and I still don't own it. They butched this in mastering by compressing the sound so everything sounds forward and in your face, a disservice to this great group.

I saw an interview with two of the members where they said they wanted the music to really beat on your eardrum, or something to that effect, and that it does! So I think this is exactly what they wanted it to sound like.

I really enjoy it and find it exciting, but certainly not easy to listen to - I wouldn't want to be stuck on a desert island with it as my only option

Here's the interview: https://www.thestrad.com/video/eben...ene-quartet-talks-about-life-in-lockdown-and-performing-beethoven/11039.article

Might need to register to see it.

 

[starthrower]

The older set by Tokyo String Quartet is quite cheaply had and has quite good sound and excellent performances to boot.

I love the Tokyo RCA set! Gorgeous sound and great playing. I recently picked up Quatuor Ebene which is more closely mic'd but the sound is very good as is the playing. Recorded live around the world with no audience sound.

 

[HenryPenfold]

For some reason I always come back to the Emersons. It also helps that I've seen them live. a few times in London.

But I also have the DG recordings of the Hagen Quartet which I recommend highly. And of course the Quartetto Italiano are indispensable.

I've been enjoying the Belcea Quartets cycle via streaming and I'm tempted to buy the set.

I've got over the impulse to buy the Belcea set, but I fancy a new Razumovsky Op.59. I wonder if The Quartetto Italiano have a set of those on their own (I don't want to buy a complete LvB StQt set).

 

[mparta]

So I bought one out of curiosity, then another out of curiosity, then found the whole set at less than the price of a couple more, so I splurged.

I'd be interested to hear what others think. The technique and intonation are very good but the tone and approach are fairly acidic and sometimes aggressive. I still like it enough to keep it as the set on my work computer but I think I would prefer many others for individual performances. I've dragged out my old Emerson set to rethink, they sound positively gemuetlich compared to these Italians

 

[Merl]

View attachment 149173

So I bought one out of curiosity, then another out of curiosity, then found the whole set at less than the price of a couple more, so I splurged.

I'd be interested to hear what others think. The technique and intonation are very good but the tone and approach are fairly acidic and sometimes aggressive. I still like it enough to keep it as the set on my work computer but I think I would prefer many others for individual performances. I've dragged out my old Emerson set to rethink, they sound positively gemuetlich compared to these Italians

I think that like any Beethoven set there are some performances that fit with what we want to hear and others that don't. Putting down a consistently excellent Beethoven SQ cycle is very difficult and some quartets are better in certain quartets than in others. Like you, I have the Di Cremona set and there are certain performances that I like. I recently reviewed their performance of Beethoven's last quartet and found it highly enjoyable, noting that it was 'quirky, not for everyone, but thoroughly engaging.' Personally I rate some performances in this set but agree that it's one that can easily polarise opinions. If I was forking out on an Lvb cycle and I wanted a less quirky approach I'd play safe with the likes of the Alexanders. High quality, straightforward but classy. Keep the Di Cremona though. Who knows, in a few years you might change your mind on it.