The Guarneri Quartet has forgotten more about the late quartets of Beethoven than most ... more
other ensembles will ever know. They understand the profound lyrical impulse behind these works, and they manage the paradoxical feat of imparting a sublime sense of inevitability to the music while achieving spontaneity at the same time. The interpretations serve the music admirably, though the sound is somewhat veiled. Although the set is rather awkwardly laid out--Op. 127 is split between two discs, and the Grosse Fuge appears on a separate disc from Op. 130, to which it was the original finale--the insights are worth the trouble. --Ted Libbey
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Advantages: Music of astonishing perfection; performances that are breathtaking and up to the task. Disadvantages: Cheesy cover art.
Certain compositions stand out in history as the quintessence, the ne plus ultra of their form. Think: Bach?s ?Goldberg Variations,? ?Mass in B Minor,? and ?Art of Fugue,? Mozart?s ?Requiem,? and Beethoven?s Ninth Symphony and Piano Sonatas, Opus 109-111. Among this company, Beethoven?slatestringquartets, two of which are featured on this Philips archival reissue, easily join the ranks of some of the loftiest creations of mankind. There is a touch of absurdity in ?rating? such works; they have been universally acknowledged as among the greatest in the Western canon. They are absolutely essential listening for any classical music devotee, and for anyone and all with a yen for discovering greatness in human achievements. The rating (I must remind myself) is for the recording and performances. Happily, these are also the ne plus ultra ...
Advantages: The writing, the setting, the music Disadvantages: The characters are not sow ell defined or likable
I bought this book, An Equal Music by Vikram Seth, for the grand sum of one penny on the basis of a review written by Floon. I was enchanted by his description of the storyline and the author?s writing style. I was not disappointed.
The author, Vikram Seth states, in an author?s note located on the last page of the book, that, ?Music to me is dearer even than speech?. To convey this, he focuses his novel on the world of music and its performance.
The central character, Michael Holme, is the second violinist in a London-based stringquartet. His life has settled somewhat into a rut. He plays his violin; teaches the violin; makes love to one of his students, Virginie; rings his father; all as a matter of routine.
His comfortable lifestyle is suddenly disturbed by a series of events each connected and occurring in parallel ...
Advantages: Fantastically realised world, focused plot Disadvantages: Minimalist detail, not a cohesive collection
The Earthsea Quartet compiles Ursula Le Guin's first four novels set in the Iron Age styled world of Earthsea. The first three books of the original trilogy were published over four years, from 1968 to 1972. A fourth book was released in 1990, erroneously subtitled the last tale of Earthsea but it ended up being the springboard for further tales.
The four books are set in the known lands of Earthsea; made up of a central archipelago encircled by four polar reaches and the Kargad Lands. Areas outside the provided map are unknown; however a land of the dragons is speculated to exist in the far west.
Earthsea is mostly populated by a dark-browned skinned people. The white Kargs are given a slightly more barbaric presentation than other races, shown to be less literate and superstitious of the practise of magic. Different characters from ...
Product Information for "Beethoven: Late String Quartets" »
Product details
Title
Beethoven: Late String Quartets
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Orchestra / Ensemble(s)
Juilliard Qt
Date of Release
01/04/2002
Recomended Retail Price
14.99 GBP
Label / Distributor
Essential Classics / BMG UK
Pieces in Set
3
Running Time
4 hours 31 minutes
Genre(s)
Chamber
Stereo
Stereo
SPAR Code
DDD
EAN
5099708989729
Work 1
Work Title
String Quartet No. 12 in E flat, Op. 127
Excerpt(s)
1. Maestoso_Allegro 2. Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile 3. Scherzando vivace 4. Finale
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Chamber
Date Written
1823/4
Orchestra / Ensemble
Juilliard Quartet
Work 2
Work Title
String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131
Excerpt(s)
1. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo (fugue) 2. Allegro molto vivace 3. Allegro moderato 4. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile 5. Presto 6. Adagio quasi un poco andante 7. Allegro
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Chamber
Date Written
1826
Orchestra / Ensemble
Juilliard Quartet
Work 3
Work Title
String Quartet No. 13 in B flat, Op. 130
Excerpt(s)
1. Adagio ma non troppo_Allegro 2. Presto 3. Andante con moto ma non troppo 4. Alla danza tedesca (allegro assai) 5. Cavatina (adagio molto espressivo) 6. Allegro
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Chamber
Date Written
1825/6
Orchestra / Ensemble
Juilliard Quartet
Work 4
Work Title
Grosse Fuge in B flat, Op. 133
Excerpt(s)
1. Grosse Fuge in B flat, Op. 133
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Chamber
Date Written
1826
Orchestra / Ensemble
Juilliard Quartet
Work 5
Work Title
String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132
Excerpt(s)
1. Assai sostenuto_Allegro 2. Allegro ma non tanto 3. Molto adagio (Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der lydischen Tonart) 4. Alla marcia, assai vivace 5. Allegro appassionato
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Chamber
Date Written
1825
Orchestra / Ensemble
Juilliard Quartet
Work 6
Work Title
String Quartet No. 16 in F, Op. 135
Excerpt(s)
1. Allegretto 2. Vivace 3. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo 4. Der schwer gefasste Entschluss
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Chamber
Date Written
1826
Orchestra / Ensemble
Juilliard Quartet
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