Favourite Beethoven Quartet

[rappy]

Hope there hasn't been such a vote yet...

I prefer 59/1 because as a whole it's such a fantastic piece of music, the finale alone is great and it's even greater when listening to the great slow movement before, which is just as great as it is because there is the scherzo etc. etc.

59/2 has got a fantastic first movement.

127 I don't like much yet... but then, I love the following quartets, especially 130 and 131.

A movement which I totally dislike (probably because I don't understand the music) is the Scherzo (2nd) of 132...

[The Emperor]

132 because of the third movement, is just too beautiful.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

For me it's a battle royal between 127, 131 and 132. 127 is perfection, with one of the most magical codas Beethoven ever devised; 131 is the most stunning structure Beethoven ever erected in a string quartet; and 132 has the greatest slow movement, though I find the second movement a bit boring, too (apart from the Trio).

I go for 131, all in all.

[ChamberNut]

132 because of the third movement, is just too beautiful.

Very true.  That 3rd movement is so beautiful.  But overall, I have to go with Op. 130 as my favorite.

Very hard to pick just one!  Op. 130, 131, and 132 are virtually the 3 juggling balls.   

[Don]

Voted for Op. 127 - that 1st movement thrills me.

[hornteacher]

18/4.  Classical in form, Romantic in style.

[George]

132 because of the third movement, is just too beautiful.

[orbital]

131 
If I had, say, three choices I'd go for 132 and 59/2.

[val]

The 15, opus 132.

(But it is a shame not to mention the opus 59/1, 127, 130, 131)

[Wanderer]

Quartetto serioso (op.95) gets my vote. 

[BachQ]

Op. 130 as originally published with the Große Fuge (op. 133).

[Sergeant Rock]

Op.130

My unpretending love's the B flat major
by the old Budapest done
                   John Berryman, Beethoven Triumphant



Sarge, channeling the late, great poet

[ChamberNut]

Op. 130 as originally published with the Große Fuge (op. 133).

Yes! 

[71 dB]

I go for 131, all in all.

Me too but it's a hard choice since the late quartets are so phenomenal...

[longears]

Quartetto serioso (op.95) gets my vote. 

I like them all, but I'm with Wanderer on this one!  Tough choice, though.  It's like being in a room full of Rothkos or Monets and having to pick a favorite!

My unpretending love's the B flat major
by the old Budapest done
                   John Berryman, Beethoven Triumphant

I knew I liked you, Sarge!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I'm glad some are voting for the 'Serioso', for that's another quartet I love very much.

This is a cruel poll!

[ChamberNut]

It's so tough to vote for just one.

I voted Op. 130, but honorable mention for the Op. 18/4 for the early quartets, and Op. 59/3 and Op. 74 "Harp".

[The new erato]

Voted for Op. 127 - that 1st movement thrills me.

For many (I mean MANY) years I thought Op 131 was it , the last 3 years have convinced me its the op 127, the main reason being the one cited by Don.

[Wanderer]

*bump*

[Maestro267]

First 5 movements of 130 followed by 131 as finale