Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Complete String Quartets

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an excellent 8-disc set containing all of Ludwig van Beethoven's string quartets. They were originally recorded by the Medici String Quartet from 1988 to 1990. The Medici Quartet, which at the time of the recordings was the resident quartet at the University of York in Britain, plays these masterpieces with great sensitivity and a high degree of musicianship. The discs' sound quality is first rate, and the recording venue - The Maltings (formerly a medieval brewery, and now a world class music hall) in the British town of Snape, Aldeburgh - adds the necessary feeling of warmth and intimacy to the recordings.

This inexpensive CD set, containing all of Beethoven's string quartets, is truly an excellent bargain! Although these are not the most penetrating readings of Beethoven's string quartets, the Medicis play them flawlessly, and make listening to them an exceptionally enjoyable listening experience.

The recordings are not perfect, and the technical ability of the Medici Quartet seems stretched on occasions. Nonetheless, the performances are passionate, sympathetic and musical without exception; many of the recordings are superior to more expensive versions (Opp 132 and 95 are particular highlights). At the price, this set is incredibly good value for money and serves as an excellent introduction to Beethoven's quartets.

Beethoven's String Quartets have always been a challenge to perform, and a lot of inferior recordings have been produced. Fortunately, this gem from the Medici Quartet is not one of them. Every performance sparkles, and the price is utterly unbelievable, especially for what you get.

I certainly agree that this set is a deal--lots of Beethoven, in committed performances and fine sound, for very little money. Realistically, the Medici Quartet do their best work in the Early Quartets, capturing all the confidence and swagger of the young Beethoven announcing his mastery in chamber music's most challenging medium. Equally fine is the Medici's bonus String Quintet in C, which despite being written on the verge of Beethoven's Middle Period is one of his most classically poised chamber works.

In the Middle and Late Quartets, where the challenge from big-name string quartets is fierce, the Medici are not quite as effective. Some critics say a string quartet is only as strong as its cello player since this member must be relied on to give weight and contour to a performance. If that's the case, the Medici's Anthony Lewis lets the quartet down somewhat. His intonation is not always dead-on, and in some of the more difficult music--such as Opus 59, No. 3, with its breakneck fugal finale and first movement with exposed runs for the cello--he doesn't quite come through for the Medici. This certainly doesn't disqualify the set from serious consideration; the performances are still well judged and mostly well played. It's just that the set won't be a first choice if you want the very finest performances. In that case you will probably want to turn to the Takacs on Decca, for instance.

On the other hand, mistakes by the Medici are few; maybe the most glaring is the allegretto tempo the quartet takes for the scherzo of the Opus 95. Beethoven's marking: Allegro assai vivace. Just listen to the limp impression that the Medici make, and you will realize that Beethoven knew what he was asking for. Any slower tempo drains this music of its superbly manic quality. The tempo choice throws a wet blanket as well on the last movement, where Beethoven seems to be trying out a new chamber music language before the lighthearted, almost mocking coda in the major key. In this work, Beethoven is just about to turn the corner toward his Late Period. The quartet should seethe with the restlessness of a composer on the verge of a breakthrough. The Medici seem oblivious to the fact. And surprisingly, despite their vigorous performances of the Early Quartets, their playing in the Haydnesque replacement finale of Op. 130 lacks dash and wit.

Otherwise, the performances here are thoroughly solid even if they are without great distinction. Then again, the performances of the Early Quartets and of the Quintet seem just about perfect to me. And the sound is first-class throughout. So if you want a very respectable overview of the Beethoven String Quartets at a budget price, the Medici version is entirely recommendable.

Many people don't seem to understand Nimbus is releasing top rate, older digital recordings at a bargain price. These recordings of Beethoven's string quartets are crisp, clear, and brilliantly performed by the Medici Quartet. The acoustics are the added extra you get with any Nimbus recording, and to my taste, what makes these recordings so delightful. Many classical music fans are like the people who will only buy designer shirts with the little sporting logo on the front, or the alligator on the shirt pocket. What they fail to realize is there are many ensembles out there who don't have the recording contract with Sony, DG, or Polygram. Naxos has made a business out of the "other" performers. Nimbus is a first-rate label, Beethoven's string quartets are first rate compositions, and these are first rate recordings. The only criticism is the bottom end is slightly lacking throughout the set. Just turn up the bass a little, and enjoy. It would take a professional musicologist to tell the difference. Highly recommended!

This inexpensive set, is really an excellent bargain! The Medici Quartet play Beethoven almost flawlessly, with great sensitivity and a high degree of musicianship and make listening to these masterpieces a very enjoyable experience. Sometimes more enjoyable than many of the great Beethoven quartet recordings.
The discs sound quality is first rate, and the recording venue adds the necessary feeling of warmth and intimacy to the recordings. The acoustics are the added extra you get with any Nimbus recording, and to my taste, what makes these recordings so delightful. Perhaps, turning up the bass -one notch- is a good idea, but not essential. These recordings are crisp, clear, and brilliantly performed. The Medicis are passionate, sympathetic and musical without exception; many of the recordings might be superior to the more expensive versions (Op. 18 no. 1-3, Op. 127 and 131 are particular highlights). Every performance sparkles, and the price is utterly unbelievable.

Enjoy!!

I have loved this eight disc set ever since I bought it shortly after its release in 1994 and have never found any reason to replace it with a more expensive version by a more "glamorous" quartet. Thse are deeply felt yet unfussy performances, beautifully in tune, technically impeccable and responsive to all the shades of dynamic and tone that this incredible music requires. I particularly love the hushed rapture of the slow movements, such as the famous Cavatina in Op. 130, but the Medici are equally adept in capturing the grim, savage glee of Beethoven's wilder effusions in the "Grosse Fuge". I made a point of comparing their version with the celebrated Takacs Quartet account of the later quartets, and while I admired the Takacs' elegance and subtlety, their interpretation was simply too urbane, too civilised and lacking the attack and energy that the Medici bring to these strange and wonderful works. I have bought this set for friends - easy, even at "full" price - who now share my enthusiasm for these performances and you can now pick them up from Amazon Marketplace at knock-down prices. Don't hesitate; save your money for other, more expensive items on your wish list and make this your set of Beethoven string quartets.

There are certainly greater traversals of the Quartets--more intense (first Juilliard), more beautiful (Guarneri, Amadeus), more intimate (Budapest), more thoughtful/philosophical (Tackacs). But The Medici's lithe, intelligent, energetic approach does the job for me. This has been my favorite overall, all-purpose set since it first came out over 20 years ago. Certainly at the price it can't be beat.

I have not heard too many entire sets of the Beethoven Quartets but I would be shocked if there is one set with 16 outstanding performances. It just does not happen. This bargain set has 13 excellent performances out of 17 (it also includes the opus 29 quintet). The weak performances are from opus 18: Nos. 1, 4 and 6 plus opus 95. I found the rest to be quite wonderful, especially opus 74, 127 and 135. This 8 CD set costs the same as two full-priced CDs. You can't go wrong at that price.

The Medici turn out a solid set of Beethoven's masterpieces at an unbelievably low price. As a bonus, the rarely recorded Sting Quintet, Op.29 is included on the disc with the Razumovsky No.1. Don't let the price fool you, these aren't cheap performances.