Scherzo. Vivace - Allegro - Tempo I - Allegro - Tempo I - Presto -
8:38
4.
Finale. [Allegro] - Allegro comodo
7:12
String Quartet, Op.131 (1826)
38:46
in C sharp minor • in cis-Moll • en ut dièse mineur
Dédié à Son Excellence Monsieur Le Baron de Stutterheim.
Lieutenant Maréchal de Camp Impérial et Royal d'Autriche etc.
5.
1
Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo -
7:22
6.
2
Allegro molto vivace -
2:58
7.
3
Allegro moderato - Adagio -
0:42
8.
4
Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile - Più mosso -
14:29
9.
5
Presto - Molto poco adagio -
4:46
10.
6
Adagio quasi un poco andante -
2:22
11.
7
Allegro - Poco adagio - Tempo I
6:04
Total time: 78:05
COMPACT DISC THREE
String Quartet, Op.132 (1825)
46:58
in A minor • in a-Moll • en la mineur
Dédié à Son Altesse Monseigneur le Prince Nicholas de Galitzin,
Lieutenant Colonel de la Garde de Sa Majesté Impériale de toutes les Russies
1.
Assai sostenuto - Allegro
9:43
2.
Allegro ma non tanto -
8:53
[Trio] - L'istesso tempo - L'istesso tempo -
Da Capo al Fine
3.
Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der lydischen
19:37
Tonart. Molto adagio -
Neue Kraft fühlend. Andante -
Molto adagio - Andante -
Molto adagio. Mit innigster Empfindung
4.
Alla marcia, assai vivace - Più allegro - Presto -
2:01
5.
Allegro appassionato - Presto
6:28
String Quartet, Op.135 (1826)
24:28
in F major • in F-Dur • en fa majeur
Dédié à Son Ami Jean Wolfmeier
6.
Allegretto
6:15
7.
Vivace
3:12
8.
Assai lento, cantante e tranquillo - Più lento - Tempo I
8:06
9.
Der schwer gefaßte Entschluß. Muß es sein? Grave, ma non troppo tratto - Adagaio -
6:38
troppo tratto - Adagio -
Es muß sein! Allegro -
Grave, ma non troppo tratto - Allegro - Poco adagio - Tempo I
Total time: 70:53
Chamber: Brodsky Quartet
Daniel Rowland violin
Ian Belton violin
Paul Cassidy viola
Jacqueline Thomas cello
26 and 27 October 2017 (Opp. 133 and 135), 7-10 May 2018 (Opp.95 and 131),
21-24 May 2018 (Opp.130 [except Cavatina] and 132),
and 8-10 April 2019 (Opp. 127 and 130 [Cavatina]
Notes
The late quartets are among the last works that Beethoven completed, and are considered by many as the pinnacle of his achievements as a composer, and among the greatest compositions of all time.
The Russian prince Nikolai Galitzin wrote to Beethoven in November 1822, requesting ‘one, two or three new quartets, for which labour I will be glad to pay you what you think proper’. This commission resulted in the Quartets, Opp. 127, 132, and 130, after which he went on to write Quartets, Opp. 131 and 135, and then the substitute final movement for Op. 130, which replaced the Große Fugue that originally had ended that piece – and which Stravinsky described as ‘an absolutely contemporary piece of music that will be contemporary forever’.
In this recording, the Brodsky Quartet has chosen to include (emulating several other quartets) the Quartet, Op. 95. Although this piece significantly predates the others, in terms of innovation and compositional style it points strongly towards the later works.
Since their formation in 1972, the Brodsky Quartet has earned – and maintained – a worldwide reputation for excellence and innovation. Exclusive Chandos recording artists, the Brodsky Quartet has won numerous awards and accolades, and remains committed to an extensive programme of educational work in addition to their hectic performing and recording schedules.
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Reviews
“At every turn of these engrossing and deeply considered readings, I like how the Brodskys ask questions of the music, of the listener too… So the Brodsky’s playing faithfully follows Beethoven into extreme terrain, not least in a radiant 20-minute account of the ‘Heiliger Dankgesang’, anchoring an account of Op. 132 that opens at the outer limit of audibility – I find the Chandos engineering, the differentiation of voices and technical finesse of the recording a pleasure in itself … it’s a set to reckon with …”
Peter Quantrill – Gramophone magazine – March 2020
Performance **** Recording *****
Michael Tanner – BBC Music magazine – March 2020
Classical Album of the Week
“… they [Brodsky Quartet] certainly have their own distinctive virtues, and the highlights reach very high indeed. Technically, these performances are immaculate, so it all comes down to a question of personal taste. To me, the account of the A minor Quartet Op. 132 is the outstanding interpretation here with its serene Adagio, the Heiliger Dankgesang, taken as slowly as anyone could dare, and the intensity of its finale ratcheted up with perfect sureness… As in any cycle of these inexhaustible works, everyone has to pick and choose what they admire, but there is no doubting that these performances of some of the greatest music ever written are to be taken seriously.” ****
Andrew Clements – The Guardian – 10 January 2020
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Brodsky Quartet record late Beethoven String Quartets