Title: Ludwig van Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets
Released: 2012
Genre: Classical
Cast: Belcea Quartet: Corina Belcea (violin I), Axel Schacher (violin II), Krzysztof Chorzelski (viola), Antoine Lederlin (cello)

Description:

With his sixteen string quartets, Beethoven forged the backbone of this repertoire. The six quartets Opus 18 show the composer's mastery of the classical form. In contrast, the five middle quartets burst this form, with a very free treatment of the instruments and their development. Most profoundly and spiritual, the late quartets went far beyond what people were ready to hear at that time and are still intellectually challenging. The Belcea Quartet is well-known for its dynamic and compelling interpretations. The Quartet embarked on the complete cycle of Beethoven string quartets, playing the whole program within twelve days and brings a freshness to their interpretation of Beethoven's string quartets, and draws forth a great range of colours, from sweetness to strength, from solemnity to impetuous force . Including the documentary "On the Paths of the Beethoven String Quartets", directed by Jean Claude Mocik.

Recorded live at the Wiener Konzerthaus, 2012.

Quote
Tracklist:
  Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
  The Complete String Quartets

• Disc # 1
  String Quartet in F major, Op. 18, No. 1
1 I. Allegro con brio 9:39
2 II. Adagio affetuoso ed appassionato 10:38
3 III. Scherzo. Allegro molto 3:16
4 IV. Allegro 6:07
  String Quartet in G major, Op. 18, No. 2
5 I. Allegro 8:34
6, II. Adagio cantabile 5:43
7 III. Scherzo. Allegro 4:22
8 IV. Allegro molto, quasi Presto 5:24
  String Quartet in D major, Op. 18, No. 3
9 I. Allegro 8:20
10 II. Andante con moto 7:21
11 III. Allegro 2:58
12 IV. Presto 6:15
  String Quartet in C minor, Op. 18, No. 4
13 I. Allegro, ma non tanto 9:05
14 II. Scherzo. Andante scherzoso, quasi Allegretto 7:48
15 III. Menuetto. Allegretto 3:33
16 IV. Allegro 4:22
  String Quartet in A major, Op. 18, No. 5
17 I. Allegro 7:01
18 II. Menuetto 4:46
19 III. Andante cantabile 9:37
20 IV. Allegro 6:45

• Disc # 2
  String Quartet in B flat major, Op. 18, No. 6
1 I. Allegro con brio 6:38
2 II. Adagio, ma non troppo 6:35
3 III. Scherzo. Allegro 3:04
4 IV. La Malincolia. Adagio - Allegretto quasi Allegro 8:05
  String Quartet in F major, Op. 59, No. 1
5 I. Allegro 10:28
6, II. Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando 9:04
7 III. Adagio molto e mesto 14:06
8 IV. Allegro 7:49
  String Quartet in E minor, Op. 59, No. 2
9 I. Allegro 10:05
10 II. Molto Adagio 13:44
11 III. Allegretto 6:33
12 IV. Finale. Presto 5:12
  String Quartet in C major, Op. 59, No. 3
13 I. Introduzione. Andante con moto - Allegro vivace 11:17
14 II. Andante con moto quasi Allegretto 10:10
15 III. Menuetto. Grazioso 4:51
16 IV. Allegro molto 5:36
  String Quartet in E flat major, Op. 74 "Harp"
17 I. Poco Adagio - Allegro 9:57
18 II. Adagio ma non troppo 9:35
19 III. Presto 4:56
20 IV. Allegretto con variazioni 6:24

• Disc # 3
  String Quartet in F minor, Op. 95
1 I. Allegro con brio 4:55
2 II. Allegretto ma non troppo 7:15
3 III. Allegro assai vivace ma serioso 3:59
4 IV. Larghetto expressivo - Allegretto agitato 4:28
  String Quartet in E flat major, Op. 127
5 I. Maestoso - Allegro 7:22
6, II. Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile 16:33
7 III. Scherzando vivace 7:34
8 IV. Finale 6:53
  String Quartet in B flat major, Op. 130
9 I. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro 9:59
10 II. Presto 1:48
11 III. Andante con moto ma non troppo 6:50
12 IV. Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai 2:54
13 V. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo 6:46
14 VI. Finale. Allegro 8:22
  String Quartet in B flat major, Op. 130 with the Great Fugue in B flat major, Op. 133
15 I. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro 9:30
16 II. Presto 1:48
17 III. Andante con moto ma non troppo 6:50
18 IV. Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai 2:56
19 V. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo 6:45
20 VI. Overtura. Allegro - Fuga 15:26

• Disc # 4
  String Quartet in C sharp minor, Op. 131
1 I. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo 7:48
2 II. Allegro molto vivace 3:05
3 III. Allegro moderato 13:48
4 IV. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile 4:50
5 V. Presto 1:59
6 VI. Allegro 6:23
  String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132
7 I. Assai sostenuto - Allegro 9:38
8 II. Allegro ma non tanto 8:42
9 III. Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenden an die Gottheit in der lydischen Tonart. Molto adagio 18:07
10 IV. Alla Marcia, assai vivace 2:14
11 V. Allegro appassionato 6:24
  String Quartett in F major, Op. 135
12 I. Allegretto 6:40
13 II. Vivace 3:11
14 III. Lento assai e cantante tranquillo 6:52
16 IV. Grave ma non troppo tratto - Allegro 7:05

17 Documentary: Looking for Beethoven 47:28

Issued: United States | EUROARTS
Duration: 02:18:59 + 02:51:18 + 02:26:12 + 01:50:44 + 00:47:28 (Documentary)