best recording of beethoven string quartets

[compsonheir]

I'm in the market for a box set of all the Beethoven string quartets and I can't decide which one to get. Any suggestions? If I had to buy one right now I'd get the live recording that the Alban Berg quartet did in 1989 but I'm still not sure.

[Jeremiah Lawson]

THe whole set? Wow, that would be a lot of money! I've never heard the Alban Berg recordings but I've heard good things about them. I never had the nerve to buy the whole set but I've picked up individual box sets of different stages. Since I never got into the early string quartets I never got a recording of them bu tthe Tokyo String quartet had a recording of those I listened to and enjoyed. I'm more into the late quartets. Reissues can be a good way to go. I have a reissue of the Busch quatet recordings from the 1930s. The sound quality, naturally, is not awesome but the performances are compelling. I also have the Emerson string quartet's recording of the late quartets and have enjoyed their take on the works. For the middle quartets there was an interesting reissue of Library of Congress recordings of the Budapest quartet that pretty quickly won me over.

I know you're asking about all the Beethoven string quartets so I don't want to discourage you from getting a single box set of those but I also want to let you know that finding a single ensemble that nails everyone of the quartets might be tough to find and even if not that, it might be tough on your checkbook. If someone has a recommendation for an ensemble that tackles the whole set I'm interested in reading about that, too.

[avoz]

Wenatchee, I have a 8-CD set of the complete Quartets by the distinguished Canadian ensemble 'The Orford Quartet' (DELOS DE 3039) but no group could hope to reach optimum standard in all of them and the last time I checked 'The Gramophone' magazine recommendations they plumped for 'The Vegh Quartet' recordings of c. 1975 despite minor quibbles. The Orford set were a gift which I treasure, the members being in residence at Toronto University I believe but if I were starting with unlimited funds I would go with suggestions by 'The Gramophone' reviewers, all experts in their field (guitar and lute recordings were reviewed by the late John W. Duarte).

[GEO]

Major ensembles to consider also include Emerson, Quartetto Italiano, Juilliard, Guarneri, Cleveland, Budapest (old but classic), Takacs. The list could go on, but I can't...

Cheers,

geo

[John O]

In addition to the above fine sets, I like the Melos Quartet. Unfortunately, I think they are out of print, but used sets are probably still available.

[APribilski]

the lafayette quartet were supposed to be recording all of the quartets when i went to hear them do all of them for beethoven fest here in winnipeg a few years ago. they're the artists in residence at vancouver or victoria (british columbia) university....they did a magnificent job, and i would be overjoyed at owning a set of cds of them playing all the quartets

[LFP]

I have a reissue of the Busch quatet recordings from the 1930s. The sound quality, naturally, is not awesome but the performances are compelling. I also have the Emerson string quartet's recording of the late quartets and have enjoyed their take on the works. For the middle quartets there was an interesting reissue of Library of Congress recordings of the Budapest quartet that pretty quickly won me over.

It is wonderful to reminded of Adolf Busch. For a violinist who always presented as "number one" (including playing on a raised platform at quartet recitals) the sense of ensemble and "all involved" music making was almost a surprise. I have spent some time listening to Busch's recordings, Adolf repayed that attention with rewarding insights. Thanks "WenatcheeTheHatchet". Wasn't a brother also in the quartet?

[Jeremiah Lawson]

I don't remember, actually. The only two brothers who I know of who were in a quarter at one point were Paul and Rudolph Hindemith for a short while in the Amar-Hindemith quartet. I have a CD that reissued Hindemith's Op. 22 string quartet and the sound quality is awful (at one point the ensemble hits the resonant frequency of the room they recorded the piece in and the note lingers!) but when I hear Hindemith playing his own amazing string quartet I realized why so few quartets have the nerve or chops to play the piece! The Pacifica string quartet came to Seattle a few years ago and played Op.22, a Haydn quartet, and a Dvorak quartet. One of my favorite quartet concerts. Come to think of it, I've been to a lot more string quartet concerts than guitar recitals.

[LFP]

Come to think of it, I've been to a lot more string quartet concerts than guitar recitals.

My "problem" also. As a form of music making I find it so challenging to my guitar ears and usually far more enjoyable. I do not know op22 Paul Hindemith, I will look it out. Some time ago I started playing cello lines for quartets on guitar and haven't regretted it once. Highly recommended. The brother was Herman Busch cellist if memory serves me well.

[Jeremiah Lawson]

If you can't find Hindemith's own recording (it was rereleased through Koch) there's a couple of pretty good recordings. My favorite so far is by the Kocian quartet but it's a box set of all of Hindemith's quartet. Half of them are amazing and half of them are just all right. His quartets are to my mind not quite at the level of Bartok and Shostakovich but they deserve a bit more recognition all the same.

[mpferreira]

I have a great recording by the Guarneri Qt and I like it a lot.
I also remember having heard almost all of them played by the ABQ and this set is just amazing. (Today, I would choose this one between the two.)
But I suggest you search the site of Gramophone Magazine. You will certainly find a lot of reviews there.

[lemppari]

As a complete set Amadeus Quartet in DG is my favorite. But if you don't restrict yourself to a one box, there are numerous wonderful performances. Lasalle, Emerson, Busch...

Kari

[johnsmith21197]

I have heard that the complete set by the Lindsay Quartet is considered the best: they won a Grammophone award for their recording of the late quartets. Although the sources that list the Lindsay Quartet as the best claim that they can sometimes be slightly out of tune, they say it is worth it.

[George Crocket]

Hi John.

Welcome to the Delcamp classical guitar forum.

If you have not already done so, please have a look at our welcome page for more information about the forum and its rules, then please introduce yourself here for a proper welcome.

[gitgeezer]

I have all but two by the Smetana Quartet and those two by the Fitzwilliam. Of these two quartets, I prefer the Smetana. Oddly, the Smetana sounds better recorded, though recorded in analog, while the Fitzwilliam was digitally recorded. Though both are very good, I wouldn’t expect that either would rank among the top three.