Beethoven: The Early String Quartets Op. 18 Nos. 1-6; String Quintet Op. 29; Quartet Op. 14 No. 1

Beethoven (Artist), Tokyo String Quartet (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 6, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003FBJ
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,866 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. String Quartet No. 1 in F major, Op. 18/1: Allegro con brio

2. String Quartet No. 1 in F major, Op. 18/1: Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato

3. String Quartet No. 1 in F major, Op. 18/1: Scherzo: Allegro molto

4. String Quartet No. 1 in F major, Op. 18/1: Allegro

5. String Quartet No. 2 in G major ('Compliments'), Op. 18/2: Allegro

6. String Quartet No. 2 in G major ('Compliments'), Op. 18/2: Adagio cantabile

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 18/3: Allegro

2. String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 18/3: Andante con moto

3. String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 18/3: Allegro

4. String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 18/3: Presto

5. String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18/4: Allegro ma non tanto

6. String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18/4: Scherzo: Andante scherzoso quasi allegretto

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18/5: Allegro

2. String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18/5: Menuetto

3. String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18/5: Andante cantabile (Variazioni)

4. String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18/5: Allegro

5. String Quintet in C major ('Storm'), Op. 29: Allegro moderato

6. String Quintet in C major ('Storm'), Op. 29: Adagio molto espressivo

See all 8 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant technique and understanding of early Beethoven, March 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Beethoven: The Early String Quartets Op. 18 Nos. 1-6; String Quintet Op. 29; Quartet Op. 14 No. 1 (Audio CD)

When at their best, the technical wizardry of the Tokyo Quartet is matched by at most two other ensembles, the Alban Berg and (maybe) the Emerson. The Tokyo has been criticized, rightly I think, for glossing over the profoundly introspective and emotional sections of the late quartets. Oundjian's excessive vibrato is also annoying in the late works. By way of contrast, the early Beethoven quartets are perfect showpieces that play to the strengths of the Tokyo Quartet: splendid tone and intonation, perfect unison, and the ability to turn on a dime.

These recordings also have wonderful sound quality. Overall, I rate this as the best recording of Beethoven's Opus 18, closely followed by the Alban Berg and the Amadeus.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hard to beat., December 13, 2005

By 

J. Lambie (LA, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: The Early String Quartets Op. 18 Nos. 1-6; String Quintet Op. 29; Quartet Op. 14 No. 1 (Audio CD)

Hard to fault the Tokyo Quartet in any way. Wonderful musicians in every sense. RCA's sound is perfection. And that Beethoven guy? Not bad. So you either like them or you don't. Which is what all these reviews come down to in the end. Personal preferences.

I think the TQ does a bang up job. I have their complete Beethoven cycle and listen to them all. Frequently. For me, their Middle and Late Quartet recordings are superior to this collection. Why? Personal preference. I prefer the Petersen and Prezak Quartets for the Op. 18. I also prefer strawberry-rhubarb pie to cherry. Just barely. Doesen't make me right in either case. It's so great to be able to listen to all of them. And the Emerson and the Takacs and the Lindsay (1 & 2) and the Talich and the Vegh. I don't want to do without any of them. I only wish the Panocha would do a Beethoven cycle.

Point is, you can't go wrong with any quartet skilled enough to record. You can only listen to as many as you can, as often as you can to develop your own tastes. And expand your spirit.

And 'fungicus'? Try the Petersen and Prazak Op18/1. For what it's worth, I like them better than the Vegh. How do you feel about strawberry-rhubarb pie?

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Agree with previous reviewer except...., July 11, 2003

By 

fungfucius (Lagrangeville, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beethoven: The Early String Quartets Op. 18 Nos. 1-6; String Quintet Op. 29; Quartet Op. 14 No. 1 (Audio CD)

The previous reviewer has nailed things down pretty well; I agree with almost everything he/she has said. Except the opinion about the Amadeus quartet! That ensemble's first violinist had a nasty, wicked vibrato habit, a trait that drives me up the wall. Other than that, the Amadeus's early quartets aren't too bad.

Then there's the Vegh quartet playing one of the early Beethovens. If any ensemble plays the Opus 18, no. 1 better than the Vegh, please let me know. The Tokyo is good, no doubt about it. But as far as Op 18/#1 is concerned, I say "forget it! The Vegh is tops."

Finally, yes, the Tokyo isn't too good in the late quartets. Kind of unfortunate.