Customer Reviews

Late Quartets 1

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This may very well be the best recording of the late quartets I've ever heard. The highlight, of course, is the massive Grosse Fuge, which is the most far-sighted piece of music ever written. In it, Beethoven predicted trends of early 20th century music. Stravinsky said that it sounded modern to his ears. This performance is exceptional in that it brings out the revolutionary quality of the music without ever sounding like an exercise in 20th century performance. Instead, the dissonances and syncopation are emphasized in a manner that elicits the most emotional and technically perfect performance imaginable. And of course, the other quartets aren't just fillers. No way. The playing on these masterpieces is just as incredible as it is in the Fuge. The incredible detail and perfection demanded by Beethoven is difficult to meet, but the Quarteto Italiano manage to step up to the challenge and surpass anybody's expectations. This is a recording to grab and hold onto forever. It's just exceptional!

In the late quartets Beethoven continued to evolve many of his compositional techniques: he manages to add to the harmonic rules of before and does new things in the way of tonality and form. These quartets have a sound world all of their own, and create a small-scale effect quite different from the massive-sounding works that came before, such as the "Hammerklavier" sonata and the 9th Symphony. It would be fair to say that no other artist has ever mangaged to reach such spiritual heights. The Quartetto Italiano give superbly polished performances which are able to express the refined tones of these works. Compare their well-rehearsed renditions that come close to perfection with the more ruffled recordings of the Vegh Quartet, for example, and one really appreciates the way in which they are able to sustain the superhuman requirements of these pieces. With the Vegh team we hear 4 human beings, with these recordings we hear Beethoven's unique vision.

This incredible music is available on numerous recordings. Some are good e.g. Busch, Lindsay. But none compare to those of the Italian Quartet. It is hard to believe that this recording of this music could ever be surpassed.

the Brilliance and importance of Beethoven's Late String Quartets is a given. Suffice it to say that this is one of the loveliest recordings both in performance and sonic qualities. Not to be missed is the 1st Movement of Op 127 - which explores of B's most haunting lyrical melodies - just about as close to heaven on earth you'll get. - performed with absolute perfection.