The first chapter in your autobiography
L. Johan Modée | Earth | 06/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Profound musical works in seminal performances and excellent recordings. Beethoven's late string quartets are among the greatest music ever written. They belong to the sort of music that will change your life forever, at least after a careful listening, because this is deeply emotional and thoughtful music that - somehow - strikes many as a profound sign of true humanism.
Here these masterworks are presented in beautiful incarnations. Quartetto Italiano's famous recordings are available in different sets - e.g., there is a complete set with all the quartets, twofers with selections - but it is good to have the late quartets in a separate edition. Moreover, there are many fine sets with the complete quartets. But in so far we consider the late quartets only, I think Quartetto Italiano must be the first choice.
Strongly recommended!
"
At Last
Uri | Asheville, NC | 06/22/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These recordings have been remastered many times since CDs first became available. Each time, there was a minor improvement in sound quality, but only with this edition has there been listenable sound for these soul-searching performances. In the earlier quartets, there are many alternatives, but with the late quartets, there is this set -- and then all the others. The sound is warm and present, with only the occasional hint of shrillness.
Even if you have earlier incarnations, this is the one to own."
Peerless
revbd | Ireland | 11/28/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This incredible music is available on numerous recordings. Some are good e.g. Busch, Lindsay. But none compare to those of the Italian Quartet. It is hard to believe that this recording of this music could ever be surpassed."