Ludwig van Beethoven Emerson String Quartet - Beethoven The Late String Quartets (27 tracks) +Album Reviews

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Ludwig van Beethoven, Emerson String Quartet
Beethoven: The Late String Quartets
Genres: Jazz, Classical

Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
1. Maestoso-Allegro
2. Adagio, Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile-Andante Con Moto-Adagio Molto Espressivo-Tempo I
3. Scherzo: Vivace
4. Allegro-Allegro Comodo
5. Adagio, Ma Non Troppo E Molto Espressivo-Attacca
6. Allegro Molto Vivace-Attacca
7. Allegro Moderato-Attacca
8. Andante, Ma Non Troppo E Molto Cantabile-Piu Mosso-Andante Moderato E Lusinghiero-Adagio-Allegretto-Adagio, Ma Non Troppo E Semplice-Allegretto-Attacca
9. Presto-Attacca
10. Adagio Quasi Un Poco Andante-Attacca
11. Allegro
Track Listings (9) - Disc #2
1. Assai Sostenuto-Allegro
2. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
3. A Convalescent's Holy SOng Of Thanksgiving To The Deity, In The Lydian Mode-Molto Adagio-Feeling New Strength: Andante-Molto Adagio-Andante-Molto Adagio
4. Alla Marcia, Assai Vivace-Piu Allegro-Attacca
5. Allegro Appasionato-Presto
6. Allegretto
7. Vivace
8. Lento Assai, Cantante E Tranquillo
9. The Difficult Decision: Grave Ma Non Troppo Tanto (Must It Be?) Allegro (It Must Be!)-Grave, Ma Non Troppo Tratto-Allegro
Track Listings (7) - Disc #3
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. Overtura: Allegro-Meno Mosso E Moderato-Allegro-Fuga: (Allegro)-Meno Mosso E Moderato-Allegro Molto E Con Brio-Allegro
7. Finale: Allegro (Alternative Finale)

CD Details

All Artists: Ludwig van Beethoven, Emerson String Quartet
Title: Beethoven: The Late String Quartets
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Release Date: 7/1/2003
Genres: Jazz, Classical
Styles: Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830)
Number of Discs: 3
SwapaCD Credits: 3
UPC: 028947434122

CD Reviews

Supreme recordings of Beethovens late string quartets

Micaloneus | the Cosmos | 12/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Emerson String Quartet combine a strength of performance at the same time giving the listener subtle shades of color producing one of the supreme recordings of Beethovens late string quartets ever. They've almost done the unattainable, by producing a new approach to this old musical literature, while maintaining integrity. They bring a level of thought to these performances that have rarely been matched. Enthusiastic and sensitive interpretations rolled into one. Their approach to the late quartets is perhaps my favorite interpretation. The Budapest, Busch, Guarneri, Talich and Vegh quartets are also very good, but these provide technical brilliance and are faithful to the score, while being heartwarming and intellectually inspiring. Also, these are definitely not cold readings, but ecstatic one's. I found them refreshing and different, and still deeply moving and of course, thrill with excitement.

The main reason I recommend these recordings is because they're carefully edited performances, so well done in fact, that I never heard a single edit and I'm a headphone listener. They did a lot of takes (versions) so that they (the Emersons & producer Max Wilcox) could cherry pick the best parts within each movement, creating "the magic take" or at least something very close. I also read that they'd like to enjoy hearing these recordings someday, without worrying...could we have done it better? Sure, they could have done the "one take" perfectly (I've seen them live), but perfect doesn't necessarily mean...magical. They utilized the recording studio for all it's worth. Bravo!

These musicians have obviously polished their form to a high level of refinement, and anyone interested in the late string quartets of Beethoven would likely rate this set as a valuable addition to their collection.

Highly recommended."