BEETHOVEN: The Late Quartets

March 2, 2023

Already accumulating great acclaim, the Calidore String Quartet has released its first installment of the complete Beethoven String Quartets. This release of the Late Quartets represents a deep exploration into the composer's emotional complexity and ever relevant humanistic perspective. On this album are quartets Op. 127, 130, 131, 132, 133 Grosse Fuge, and 135.

Already accumulating great acclaim, the Calidore String Quartet has released its first installment of the complete Beethoven String Quartets. This release of the Late Quartets represents a deep exploration into the composer's emotional complexity and ever relevant humanistic perspective. On this album are quartets Op. 127, 130, 131, 132, 133 Grosse Fuge, and 135.

Label: Signum Classics
Genre: Classical
Subgenre: Chamber Music
Artist: Calidore Quartet
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Track List

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127:

1. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: I. Maestoso 07:06
2. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: Ii Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile 15:22
3. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: Iii. Scherzando vivace 08:02
4. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: Iv. Finale. Allegro 07:10

String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131:

5. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131: I. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo 06:48
6. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131: Ii. Allegro molto vivace 02:54
7. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131: Iii. Allegro moderato 00:43
8. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131: Iv. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile 13:26
9. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131: V. Presto 05:01
10. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131: Vi. Adagio quasi un poco andante 01:59
11. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131: Vii. Allegro 06:38

String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat major, Op. 130:

12. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat major, Op. 130: I. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro 13:39
13. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat major, Op. 130: Ii. Presto 01:59
14. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat major, Op. 130: Iii. Andante con moto ma non troppo. Poco scherzando 06:55
15. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat major, Op. 130: Iv. Alla danza tedesca (Allegro assai) 03:24
16. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat major, Op. 130: V. Cavatina (Adagio molto espressivo) 07:00

Grosse Fuge in B-Flat Major, Op. 133:

17. Beethoven: Grosse Fuge in B-Flat Major, Op. 133 15:32

String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat major, Op. 130:

18. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat major, Op. 130: Vi. Finale. Allegro 10:13

String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132:

19. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132: I. Assai sostenuto - Allegro 09:57
20. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132: Ii. Allegro ma non tanto 09:01
21. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132: Iii. Molto adagio 17:32
22. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132: Iv. Alla marcia, assai vivace 02:17
23. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132: V. Allegro appassionato 06:41

String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135:

24. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: I. Allegretto 06:38
25. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: Ii. Vivace 03:15
26. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: Iii. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo 07:48
27. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: Iv. Grave ma non troppo tratto - Allegro 6:43

Acclaim
October 3, 2024

A Strong Sense of Flow

"there is precious little here that does not work on its own terms, and in fact the players’ sit-up-and-take-notice approach again and again sheds new light on the music and justifies their handling of it even when what they do is a bit outside the performance mainstream. As in their recording of the late quartets, the sheer technical prowess of the Calidore String Quartet is everywhere on display here, their interpretative abilities shine through again and again, and the commitment and excellence of ensemble that pervade this release place it among the very best recordings of this repertoire available today."

"there is precious little here that does not work on its own terms, and in fact the players’ sit-up-and-take-notice approach again and again sheds new light on the music and justifies their handling of it even when what they do is a bit outside the performance mainstream. As in their recording of the late quartets, the sheer technical prowess of the Calidore String Quartet is everywhere on display here, their interpretative abilities shine through again and again, and the commitment and excellence of ensemble that pervade this release place it among the very best recordings of this repertoire available today."

,
Infodad
Feature
April 18, 2024

Chamber Award 2024

"Winners of this year’s Chamber Award, meanwhile, were the New York-based Calidore String Quartet, with their superb recordings of Beethoven’s Late Quartets. ‘The Calidore players penetrate right to the heart of the music, giving warm and intensely lyrical accounts,’ noted our review."

"Winners of this year’s Chamber Award, meanwhile, were the New York-based Calidore String Quartet, with their superb recordings of Beethoven’s Late Quartets. ‘The Calidore players penetrate right to the heart of the music, giving warm and intensely lyrical accounts,’ noted our review."

BBC Music Magazine
,
Classical Music
Feature
January 19, 2024

Chamber Award 2024

Freya Parr
,
Classical Music