Customer Reviews

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

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

 

 

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.

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?

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.

When this album first appeared, the complaint was that the Tokyo Quartet played these works as if they were composed much later in Beethoven's life. It is true that these quartets are played with a weight and style that one would expect for the middle and late quartets. But the playing is wonderful and the recording is still outstanding. I'd buy it again with no hesitation.