[wkasimer]

This site may be of interest:

https://ionarts.blogspot.com/2017/10/a-survey-of-beethoven-string-quartet.html

 

[Merl]

This site may be of interest:

https://ionarts.blogspot.com/2017/10/a-survey-of-beethoven-string-quartet.html

The only trouble with Ionart's LVB SQ and Symphony cycle sites is they're now very out of date and not all the information on them is totally correct (esp the Symphony cycles site). However, as a quick reference it's still very good. I have sent a few friendly messages to the owner with additional cycle info but none of those emails has been acknowledged or answered.

Last updates were 2 years ago on the SQ cycle (so Kuss, Ebene, etc are missing) and 3 years on the symphony cycles (about 20+ missing from that one including original omissions - eg Trevino, Ashkenazy, etc).

 

[CnC Bartok]

Well, despite the indifference expressed by a couple of gents here, I have bitten the bullet and bought the Koeckert's Late Quartets as a download. I have to say I am enjoying them very much, very fine playing, and the ear does quite quickly adjust to the rather dry and trebly sound. I must admit that the least convincing is in the glorious slow movements, especially Op.131 and 132, these are more Munch than Constable, and there are a couple of moments in the Grosse Fuge where things almost get unravelled.

But generally very very good indeed!

 

[Merl]

^ Ain't no gentlemen here, CnC. :lol:

 

[CnC Bartok]

^ Ain't no gentlemen here, CnC. :lol:

How very true!........

 

[RuneNaljoss]

Merl, unfortunately, I do not get any notices when comments are left. (You could ping me on various Social Media under @ClassicalCritic.) But the String Quartet Cycle has been updated now! Ditto DSCH-Quartet Cycle. Working on Bartok. Will tend to the others in good time. Thanks for all your hints and tips. Jens

 

[haziz]

1. Vegh (1970s)
2. Lindsay's (on ASV)
3. Juilliard (1960s)
4. Italian
5. Suske

 

[Ulfilas]

In alphabetical order:

Cleveland
Dover
Guarneri (RCA)
Italiano
Tokyo (RCA)

 

[Karafan1989]

Try the new Dover Quartet issues. They are in great sound and have great performance.

Strongly seconded!

 

[Baritone]

Vegh - stereo
Italiano
Alban Berg - EMI - first set
Julliard - SONY
Endellion

 

[Fruity Felix]

I've only got three

1. Italiano
2. Emerson
3. Takacs

(in that order)

 

[Malx]

I felt sure I must have posted on this thread before but it seems my memory fails me yet again.
To decide on the 'best' is so difficult so I have selected the five I'd retain if I had to reduce the number of cycles I have in my collection. I have chosen these sets to hopefully give a variety of interpretations rather than a selection of the 'best' whatever that means.

In no particular order:

• Hungarian Quartet (Historical)
• Suske (Eastern European heritage)
• Tokyo HM (Underated + great sound)
• Ebene (Modern live recording)
• Artemis (Modern)

I'd mourn the loss of the Takacs and Cuerteto Casals + others but I'm sure I'd survive.

 

[Knorf]

Since I last responded to this thread, I've added new favorites:

Leipziger Streichquartett
Dover Quartet
Quatuor Ysaÿe

Which would I keep from my previous five? Oy veh. I guess:

Emerson String Quartet
Tokyo String Quartet (Harmonia Mundi)

But really I feel bad leaving off:

Quartetto Italiano
Pražák Quartet

Such an embarrassment of riches we have for Beethoven string quartet recordings! There are so many worthy sets!