Late Beethoven string quartets on CD

There are no definitive recordings. There are, however, some extraordinary ones. The Budapest Quartet on Bridge is among my favorites, and the ancient sound is actually quite good. The Vegh Quartet’s stereo take is as good, but only comes as part of a box set. (Most of the other sets I know are parts of complete cycles.) The recent Takacs Quartet set has garnered a lot of praise, though I find the set a bit disappointing. Another modern (that is, digital) alternative is the Cleveland Quartet on Telarc. The individual discs are available separately and cheaply, and the performances are superb.

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If pushed into having only one set, I'd go for the Vegh Quartet on Valois mentioned by Todd. Eight CDs in a box for not a lot of money. That's his entire quartets, but the cost really is minimal.

As an alternative for the late quartets alone, try the Quartetto Italiano on three Philips mid price CDs.

Graham

I can recommend the Alban Berg Quartet. Very nice playing and rather intense and up front sound. Nails you to your seat. If you want to hear 'everything' this is for you.

Willem

Can only talk about the Juillard Quartet recording (3 CD's, only the late quartets, starting with op. 127). Somehow odd accoustics, played without worth-mentioning highlights, but emotionally catching.

Stefan

Todd mentioned the Takacs Quartet, though in contrast to his opinion I found their recent 3 disc set of late quartets excellent; like most things it's probably a matter of taste. I've also got all the Lindsays recordings which are excellent too. It would be tough to say which is better overall, one is better for some quartets and worse for the others.



regards,

Tam

Well, of course, it would be crazy to limit yourself to one set only in these of all works. I've read great things of the Talich Quartet on Caliope, for instance, but never heard their Beethoven. Anyone?

And surely the Busch Quartet deserve a mention, but I don't know which is the recommended mastering to get.

G

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
I've read great things of the Talich Quartet on Caliope, for instance, but never heard their Beethoven. Anyone?

I love the Talich set. It can be had for cheap, so it's worth considering. Dry, close sound.

I think I remember reading once that the same engineer recorded the Vegh and Talich Beethoven cycles (and maybe even that the same location was used for both?).

G

Also the Los Angeles String Quartet did a fine job. I have a box of the late quartets. Quite wonderful. Heard an interview with the last remaining member and he said they did it all from memory as they felt sight reading lacked something spontaneous. Can you imagine memorizing it all? Yikes!

Good recordings too even they are pretty old.