Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Orford String Quartet :: Beethoven: The Complete Quartets

Balanced, gorgeous sound and near-flawless performances

Christopher R. Guin | Apex, NC United States | 12/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're in the market for a complete set of Beethoven's incomparable string quartets, there are a lot of options to choose from. But for a perfect blend of stunning ensemble playing, crystal-clear recording quality, and exceptional musicality, this Delos box set by the Orford Quartet is the one to own.From the opening notes of the first of the Opus 18 quartets, it's clear that this is no ordinary disc. The Orford Quartet's familiarity with and enjoyment of the material shines through every note of this, one of Beethoven's most melodious and accessible chamber works. It is however, in the more treacherous straits of the middle "Razumovsky" quartets and the nearly unnavigable, tortuous channels of the late quartets, that the true mastery of these musicians becomes apparent. The infamous Op. 133 Grosse Fugue (recorded here as an individual work, rather than attached to the quartet for which it was originally written as an alternative ending) is also played beautifully, though even the Orford's thoughtful reading can't render it truly accessible.Most complete recordings of the Beethoven string quartets are arranged chronologically, with the first part of the set being made up of the "easy listening" quartets of the Opus 18 set, followed by the more challenging middle period quartets, and ending with the difficult but rewarding late period quartets and the Grosse Fugue. Rather than follow the path of least resistance, the Orford has paired early period with late period quartets on the first and last discs of the set, and grouped the "Razumovsky" quartets with the "Serioso" (Op. 95) and "Harfen" (Op. 74) in the middle. This makes it impossible for the listener who prefers Beethoven's more sedate, truly Classical early work to easily avoid the sturm und drang of his more intricately structured and emotionally charged late period quartets. If you want a little light Beethoven for dessert, then the first two discs of the Emerson Quartet's recording of this set give a credible, if occasionally unbalanced, reading of the melodious Opus 18 quartets. If, on the other hand, you're in the mood for a seven-course meal of all the flavors that the Maestro could serve up, then settle in with this incredible Delos set, and let the Orford Quartet serve up a veritable Christmas feast for the ear, the heart, and the mind."