NAXOS Beethoven: String Quartets (Complete) Vol. 2 CD

Brand Name: NAXOS
Product Type: Music CD
MPN (Catalog Number): 8.550559
UPC / Barcode: 730099555920
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Ensemble: Kodály Quartet
Genre: Classical Music
Style: Classical / Chamber Music
Recording Date: February 1995
Recording Location: Unitarian Church, Budapest
Release Year: 1995
Country of Manufacture: Germany
SPARS Code: DDD
Product Features
Format: Audio CD (Jewel Case)
Total Playing Time: 52'37"
Sound Quality: Stereo / Fully Digital Recording
Booklet / Liner Notes: Includes informative notes by Keith Anderson
Cover Art: Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven by Joseph Willibrord Mähler
Overview
Step into the formative genius of Ludwig van Beethoven with this second volume of his complete string quartets, featuring the internationally acclaimed Kodály Quartet. This disc contains the String Quartet in D Major, Op. 18, No. 3 and the String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4, works that brilliantly illustrate Beethoven's early mastery of the string quartet medium while paving the way for his future innovations.

The Kodály Quartet, celebrated for their deep understanding of the Central European chamber music tradition, delivers performances of exceptional grace, precision, and tonal beauty. The Op. 18 quartets, composed while Beethoven was still absorbing the influence of Haydn and Mozart, nonetheless possess the unique, muscular energy and sudden harmonic surprises that became his signature. This digital recording, captured in the intimate acoustic of the Unitarian Church in Budapest, offers a pristine and balanced listening experience that captures every nuance of these foundational masterpieces.

Interesting Facts
The Op. 18 Legacy: Beethoven’s Op. 18 set of six quartets was his first major contribution to the genre. They are a testament to his ambition; rather than simply imitating his predecessors, he expanded the technical demands and emotional range of the quartet, setting a new standard for the genre.
The Dramatic C Minor: The Quartet in C Minor (Op. 18, No. 4) is noted for its dramatic intensity and a uniquely stormy, restless character that foreshadows the famous "tragic" tone of his later Symphony No. 5.
A Masterful Ensemble: The Kodály Quartet has been a pillar of the chamber music world for decades. Their complete recording of the Beethoven quartets for Naxos is regarded as a benchmark for clarity, ensemble discipline, and interpretative insight.
Track Listing
String Quartet in D Major, Op. 18, No. 3
Track 1: Allegro (7:56)
Track 2: Andante con moto (8:09)
Track 3: Allegro (3:24)
Track 4: Presto (6:44)
String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4
Track 5: Allegro ma non tanto (9:26)
Track 6: Scherzo: Andante scherzoso quasi Allegretto (7:30)
Track 7: Menuetto: Allegretto (4:41)
Track 8: Allegro (4:28)
Publishers
Distribution: MVD Music and Video Distribution GmbH
We value your feedback! Share your experience with this product to help others make informed decisions. Your review is important to us!

NAXOS BOX 1#