Where to start with Beethoven String Quartets?

Rhymenoceros · January 28, 2013, 06:15:25 PM

Hello,

I want to get into Beethoven's String Quartets and wanted some opinions on what people's favorites are so I have an idea of where to start. I have the recordings by the Julliard and Takacs Quartet.

Thanks!

Brian · January 28, 2013, 06:19:47 PM

My personal gateway was Number 7 - that is, Op 59, No 1. It's pretty romantic, from about the time of the Third Symphony and Waldstein/Appassionata sonatas, and it starts off with one of Beethoven's loveliest tunes. Instantly lovable, not too classical like the early quartets and not as hard to "get" as the late ones. I don't think I listen to it as often anymore, but it's a great one.

The "Serioso" quartet Op 95 is, despite the scary name, a good place to start. Just barely 20 minutes long, and totally flawless. It's concise and compact and emotionally gripping, sort of like the Fifth Symphony of the quartets, I guess.

Oldnslow · January 28, 2013, 07:02:29 PM

C-sharp minor, Opus 131, in my opinion the greatest string quartet ever written, and perhaps Beethoven's best composition (an opinion Beethoven expressed).

xochitl · January 29, 2013, 12:44:40 AM

the op59 #3 [with the emerson quartet] was the one that really convinced me to listen to more chamber music

and yeah op95 may be the most perfect and gripping of them all

prémont · January 29, 2013, 01:18:32 AM

Quote from: George on January 28, 2013, 06:29:52 PM
If you mean which work to start with, why not start with the first quartet, Op. 18/1?

If you mean which recordings to start with, I say the Vegh stereo set.

I can very much agree with this, since the Vegh´s stereo of the opus 18 quartets was the recording, which converted me to Beethoven´s quartets.

Herman · January 29, 2013, 01:51:26 AM

The opus 59 pieces are a good start

Octo_Russ · January 29, 2013, 04:30:13 AM

I second the String Quartet no7, his Middle Quartets are the best, also his "Harp" Quartet No10 is ingenious.

Mandryka · January 29, 2013, 07:23:57 AM

Quote from: Herman on January 29, 2013, 01:51:26 AM
The opus 59 pieces are a good start

You've got to be careful saying that, Herman, I personally have never enjoyed op 59 so much. My own way into this was through the Busch record of Op 131 -- I remember being completely blown away by the suite, I had no idea that music could sound like that. I subsequently had a major op 18 phase, and then an op 127 phase. Now the ones that interest me most are op 130 and op 136.

Archaic Torso of Apollo · January 29, 2013, 07:36:45 AM

I started with the Lates, but I probably should have started with the Razumovskys (Op. 59) - these are full-blown middle-period Beethoven, breathing the same air as the Eroica and the 4th Symphony and 4th PC. In fact, I see 59.1 and 59.3 as each reflecting the spirit of the symphony closest to them chronologically, with 59.1 being sort of the Eroica of quartets, and the punchy, quirky 59.3 being very similar to the 4th Symphony.

On the other hand, if you're a Mozart & Haydn fan, Op. 18 might be the best place to start.

Mandryka · January 29, 2013, 07:49:33 AM

Quote from: Velimir on January 29, 2013, 07:36:45 AM
I started with the Lates, but I probably should have started with the Razumovskys (Op. 59) - these are full-blown middle-period Beethoven, breathing the same air as the Eroica and the 4th Symphony and 4th PC. In fact, I see 59.1 and 59.3 as each reflecting the spirit of the symphony closest to them chronologically, with 59.1 being sort of the Eroica of quartets, and the punchy, quirky 59.3 being very similar to the 4th Symphony.

On the other hand, if you're a Mozart & Haydn fan, Op. 18 might be the best place to start.

That's probably fair. If you like the Beethoven symphonies then probably op59 will suit you. I suspect that people who know Haydn's and Mozart's chamber music will be a bit underwhelmed by op 18.

Brian · January 29, 2013, 08:25:03 AM

Quote from: Mandryka on January 29, 2013, 07:23:57 AMop 130 and op 136.

...135?

I am actually going in order, mostly. The first I heard was Op 59 No 1, live in concert. Then I bought a box set and started going from Number 1 forward, with a couple more live concert interruptions (including a night where the Hagen Quartet played the very last quartet. Now I've had the ending spoiled for me

). Right now I've been stuck on Op. 127 for a full year, because it and the earlier quartets are so amazing I'm weirdly scared to go further.

Dancing Divertimentian · January 29, 2013, 02:44:50 PM

Quote from: Brian on January 29, 2013, 08:25:03 AM
....(including a night where the Hagen Quartet played the very last quartet. Now I've had the ending spoiled for me ).

Happily, the Hagens recorded op.135, iffen you're interested, Brian. It's quite accomplished. (The Schubert is excellent also).

Of course it would be better if the disc were actually in print!

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Mandryka · January 29, 2013, 09:00:38 PM

Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on January 29, 2013, 02:44:50 PM
Happily, the Hagens recorded op.135, iffen you're interested, Brian. It's quite accomplished. (The Schubert is excellent also).

Of course it would be better if the disc were actually in print!

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It's probably the least playful recording of op 135 I've heard. Tough, severe. You may see that as a strength or a weakness, I dunno. I think the music can take being played like that, but only just, and so it's a valuable recording bacause it's so bold, extreme. The relation to Haydn in this quartet is obscured by the way the Hagen read it. Or at least to Haydn as he's traditionally interpreted, and again that's another interesting aspct. You know you sometimes hear that the quartet is a sort of return to Haydn values.

They did it on DVd too, a different performance from the CD. Is the DVD better?

xochitl · January 30, 2013, 12:50:52 AM

Quote from: Brian on January 29, 2013, 08:25:03 AM
...I'm weirdly scared to go further.

haha same here. i havent gotten past op131 for some reason i dont think im ready

Dancing Divertimentian · January 30, 2013, 09:01:02 AM

Quote from: Mandryka on January 29, 2013, 09:00:38 PM
It's probably the least playful recording of op 135 I've heard. Tough, severe. You may see that as a strength or a weakness, I dunno. I think the music can take being played like that, but only just, and so it's a valuable recording bacause it's so bold, extreme. The relation to Haydn in this quartet is obscured by the way the Hagen read it. Or at least to Haydn as he's traditionally interpreted, and again that's another interesting aspct. You know you sometimes hear that the quartet is a sort of return to Haydn values.

Cheers, Mandryka.

Interesting assessment. I'd say for me the link to high classicism isn't betrayed in the Hagen's approach. They might take it a step beyond but to me that's no bad thing. Wouldn't this be Beethoven's idea anyway?

Besides, the Hagen's collectively have always had an active imagination.

QuoteThey did it on DVd too, a different performance from the CD. Is the DVD better?

Not sure. I haven't seen the DVD.

val · January 30, 2013, 11:28:38 PM

QuoteRhymenoceros

I want to get into Beethoven's String Quartets and wanted some opinions on what people's favorites are so I have an idea of where to start. I have the recordings by the Julliard and Takacs Quartet.

My choice would be: start with the 6 Quartets opus 18 and then follow the chronological order: 3 Quartets opus 59, opus 74, 95 and the last ones, opus 127, 130, 131, 132 and 135. It is the best way to understand the evolution of Beethoven's style. The version of the Juilliard is extraordinary.