Beethoven: Complete String Quartets

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their playing of the fugue [of Op. 130] is so staggering that this version must be heard. And their view of these quartets as a glimpse into the composer’s private emotional “diary” is compelling,... — Sunday Times, 1st January 2012 More…

Release Date: 17th Oct 2011
Catalogue No: 0708582
Label: Erato
Length: 8 hours 34 minutes

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Beethoven: String Quartet No. 1 in F major, Op. 18 No. 1

Work length28:39

$5.20

$6.80

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2010-05-19
Recording Venue: 19, 20 May, 29, 30 June & 1 July 2010 Teldex Studio, Berlin,

I. Allegro con brio

Track length9:07

$1.30

$1.70

II. Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato

Track length8:50

$1.30

$1.70

III. Scherzo (Allegro molto) & Trio

Track length4:00

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Allegro

Track length6:42

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18 No. 4

Work length23:30

$5.20

$6.80

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2008-05-07
Recording Venue: 13-15 Feb & 5-7 May, 2008. Teldex Studio, Berlin

I Allegro ma non tanto

Track length8:21

$1.30

$1.70

II Andante scherzo quasi allegretto

Track length7:05

$1.30

$1.70

III Minuetto (allegretto)

Track length3:50

$1.30

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IV Allegro

Track length4:14

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet Op.18 No.6 in B flat major

Work length28:12

$6.50

$8.50

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2009-12-08
Recording Venue: 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 XI. & 16, 17, 18 XII. 2009. Teldex Studio, Berlin.

I. Allegro con brio

Track length8:37

$1.30

$1.70

II. Adagio ma non troppo

Track length7:43

$1.30

$1.70

III. Scherzo. Allegro - Trio

Track length4:00

$1.30

$1.70

IV. La Malinconia. Adagio - attacca

Track length3:21

$1.30

$1.70

V. Allegretto quasi allegro

Track length4:31

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 2 in G major, Op. 18 No. 2

Work length24:32

$5.20

$6.80

Artemis Quartet
Recorded: 2002-07-04
Recording Venue: 10-12 June & 2-4 July 2002, Studio Stolbergerstraße, Köln

I. Allegro

Track length7:42

$1.30

$1.70

II. Adagio cantabile

Track length6:25

$1.30

$1.70

III. Scherzo (Allegro) & Trio

Track length5:08

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Allegro molto, quasi presto

Track length5:17

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 18 No. 3

Work length23:52

$5.20

$6.80

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2011-02-11
Recording Venue: 21, 22 December 2010, 27, 28 January & 9, 10, 11 February 2011. Teldex Studio, Berlin.

I. Allegro

Track length7:19

$1.30

$1.70

II. Andante con moto

Track length7:46

$1.30

$1.70

III. Allegro

Track length2:47

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Presto

Track length6:00

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18 No. 5

Work length30:44

Album only

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2011-02-11
Recording Venue: 21, 22 December 2010, 27, 28 January & 9, 10, 11 February 2011. Teldex Studio, Berlin.

I. Allegro

Track length10:20

Album only

II. Menuetto & Trio

Track length4:45

$1.30

$1.70

III. Andante cantabile

Track length9:33

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Allegro

Track length6:06

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 7 in F major, Op. 59 No. 1 'Rasumovsky No. 1'

Work length30:44

Album only

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2005-07-03
Recording Venue: 23-26 June & 2-3 July 2005. Jesus-Christus Kirche, Berlin.

I. Allegro

Track length9:51

$1.30

$1.70

II. Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando

Track length8:44

$1.30

$1.70

III. Adagio molto e mesto

Track length12:09

Album only

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, 'Razumovsky', Op. 59, No. 1: IV. Allegro (Thème russe)

Work length7:28

$1.30

$1.70

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2005-07-03
Recording Venue: 23-26 June & 2-3 July 2005. Jesus-Christus Kirche, Berlin.

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 8 in E minor, Op. 59 No. 2 'Rasumovsky No. 2'

Work length35:50

Album only

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2008-05-07
Recording Venue: 13-15 Feb & 5-7 May, 2008. Teldex Studio, Berlin

I. Allegro

Track length12:41

Album only

II. Molto adagio

Track length11:58

Album only

III. Allegretto

Track length6:08

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Finale (Presto)

Track length5:03

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 9 in C major, Op. 59 No. 3 'Rasumovsky No. 3'

Work length31:29

Album only

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 1998-07-26
Recording Venue: 20-26 July 1998, WDR Funkhaus, Klaus von Bismark-Saal, Köln

I. Introduzione (Andante con moto) - Allegro vivace

Track length10:45

Album only

II. Andante con moto quasi allegretto

Track length9:04

$1.30

$1.70

III. Menuetto (Grazioso) & Trio

Track length5:28

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Allegro molto

Track length6:12

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 10 in E flat major, Op. 74 'Harp'

Work length29:25

$5.20

$6.80

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2011-04-04
Recording Venue: 29,30,31 March & 3,4 April 2011. Teldex Studio, Finckensteinallee 36 - D - 12205, Berlin.

I. Poco adagio - Allegro

Track length9:30

$1.30

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II Adagio ma non troppo

Track length8:34

$1.30

$1.70

III. Presto

Track length4:46

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Allegretto con variazioni

Track length6:35

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 11 in F minor Op. 95 'Serioso'

Work length19:03

$5.20

$6.80

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2005-07-03
Recording Venue: 23-26 June & 2-3 July 2005. Jesus-Christus Kirche, Berlin.

I. Allegro con brio

Track length4:02

$1.30

$1.70

II. Allegretto ma non troppo

Track length6:34

$1.30

$1.70

III. Allegro assai vivace, ma serioso

Track length4:08

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Larghetto espressivo - Allegretto agitato - Allegro

Track length4:19

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 12 in E flat major, Op. 127

Work length36:15

Album only

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2010-05-19
Recording Venue: 19, 20 May, 29, 30 June & 1 July 2010 Teldex Studio, Berlin,

I. Maestoso - Allegro

Track length6:41

$1.30

$1.70

II. Adagio ma non troppo, molto cantabile

Track length14:50

Album only

III. Scherzando vivace

Track length8:07

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Finale

Track length6:37

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131

Work length38:00

Album only

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2005-12-31
Recording Venue: 2005.

I. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo

Track length7:41

$1.30

$1.70

II. Allegro molto vivace

Track length2:48

$1.30

$1.70

III. Andante moderato

Track length0:47

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile

Track length12:50

Album only

V. Presto

Track length5:08

$1.30

$1.70

VI. Adagio quasi un poco andante

Track length1:54

$1.30

$1.70

VII. Allegro

Track length6:52

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B flat major, Op. 130

Work length46:05

Album only

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2009-12-08
Recording Venue: 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 XI. & 16, 17, 18 XII. 2009. Teldex Studio, Berlin.

I. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro

Track length13:07

Album only

II. Presto

Track length1:51

$1.30

$1.70

III. Poco scherzoso. Andante con moto ma non troppo

Track length6:48

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Alla Danza tedesca. Allegro assai

Track length3:03

$1.30

$1.70

V. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo

Track length6:16

$1.30

$1.70

VI. Grosse Fuge Op.133. Ouverture. Allegro - Meno mosso e moderato - Allegro

Track length15:00

Album only

Beethoven: String Quartet in F major Hess 34

Work length14:09

$3.90

$5.10

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2011-04-04
Recording Venue: 29,30,31 March & 3,4 April 2011. Teldex Studio, Finckensteinallee 36 - D - 12205, Berlin.

I. Allegro moderato

Track length6:56

$1.30

$1.70

II. Allegretto

Track length3:37

$1.30

$1.70

III. Allegro

Track length3:36

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132

Work length44:02

Album only

Artemis Quartet
Recorded: 1998-07-26
Recording Venue: 20-26 July 1998, WDR Funkhaus, Klaus von Bismark-Saal, Köln

I. Assai sostenuto - Allegro

Track length9:35

$1.30

$1.70

II. Allegro ma non tanto

Track length9:13

$1.30

$1.70

III. Molto adagio

Track length16:28

Album only

IV. Alla marcia, assai vivace

Track length2:03

$1.30

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V. Allegro appasionato

Track length6:43

$1.30

$1.70

Beethoven: String Quartet No.16 in F major 'Muss es sein? es muss sein!' Op.135

Work length23:12

$5.20

$6.80

Artemis Quartet (string quartet)
Recorded: 2011-02-11
Recording Venue: 21, 22 December 2010, 27, 28 January & 9, 10, 11 February 2011. Teldex Studio, Berlin.

I. Allegretto

Track length6:22

$1.30

$1.70

II. Vivace

Track length3:18

$1.30

$1.70

III. Lento assai e cantante tranquillo

Track length6:29

$1.30

$1.70

IV. Grave ma non troppo tratto - Allegro

Track length7:03

$1.30

$1.70

About
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About

This box set from the Artemis Quartet marks Virgin Classics’ first complete cycle of Beethoven String Quartets. Over the past two seasons, the Berlin-based Artemis Quartet has been performing Beethoven around the world, prompting reactions such as this one, from Die Zeit: “The members of the Artemis come as people who live life, and life is what they seek in Beethoven too.”

The first of the Artemis Quartet’s Virgin Classics CDs of Beethoven Quartets was released in Autumn 2005. Now, nearly six years later, the complete Beethoven cycle becomes available in a box of 7 CDs (TBC) which includes two previously unreleased items: the quartet No 10, op 74, known as the ‘Harp’, and a transcription for string quartet, proudly made by Beethoven himself, of the Piano Sonata No 9, op 14.

The 2010-11 season has seen the Artemis Quartet continuing with its two-year focus on live performances of Beethoven. By the end of the season, the ensemble will have recently performed Beethoven quartets in, among other cities, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, London, Paris, Brussels, Rome, Milan, Florence, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston and Los Angeles, and at the Schubertiade festival in Schwarzenberg (Austria).

Eckart Runge, cellist of the Artemis Quartet, expresses the players’ views on the composer’s quartets: “His music speaks to every era – it is a perfect dialogue between tradition and modernity, and between intellectual refinement and raw emotion … In relation to the time in which he lived, Beethoven is the most modern, provocative, experimental and boldest composer of all. Many have used the string quartet to experiment, to trial and develop their mode of composition … but none of them was more extreme than Beethoven. Even today, the Grosse Fuge remains one of the most incredible and most modern pieces of music ever written … No matter how complicated the form, one can always find essential human emotion in Beethoven, whether it is hopeful longing, apprehension, exuberant joy or shy affection.”

Beethoven’s extraordinary musical evolution is traced in the cycle, which remains the touchstone of the quartet repertoire. Die Zeit observed that the Artemis Quartet is: “An ensemble that, when compared to groups on a similar level of perfection, seems to approach the repertoire from another horizon. Many quartets convey an air in their playing of rarefied workmanship and detached refinement from the world. They explore the music within the notes. The members of the Artemis come as people who live life, and life is what they seek in Beethoven too.”

The Artemis’s debut release on Virgin Classics in 2005 comprised Beethoven’s op 59/1 and op 95, while the second release brought together op 59/2, the ‘Razumovsky’ Quartet, and the Quartet op 18/4. In France, the release was named CHOC of the Year by Le Monde de la Musique and was also awarded a Diapason d’Or; in Germany it became Chamber Music Recording of the Year in the ECHO Klassik awards of the Deutsche Phono-Akademie. In the UK, the Sunday Times praised the “fresh, positive responses” of the Artemis Quartet, saying: “ … their colours are vivid and they are alert to the music’s intent to push all sorts of boundaries to breaking point,” while BBC Radio 3’s CD Review suggested that the recording should go to the top of any list of recommendations

Reviews

1st January 2012

their playing of the fugue [of Op. 130] is so staggering that this version must be heard. And their view of these quartets as a glimpse into the composer’s private emotional “diary” is compelling, especially in the late quartets, which they rightly treat as avant-garde music — as shockingly modern today as it was in Beethoven’s lifetime.

Beethoven: Complete String Quartets

7 CDs

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