The String Quartet

The Quartet in C-sharp (opus 131) is no less impressive than the one in B-flat (opus 130). The seven subsequent parts provide in music for about forty minutes without a break. Neither the musicians, nor the listeners get a moment to shift or hawk. The heart of the quartet consists of a variation cycle with distinctive tempo indications! The music goes through all thinkable manifestations in the seven parts, from fugato to peasant dance, from variation cycle to chorale, from fierce outbursts to modest musings. Unity in diversity seems to be the motto here. This may be the cause of Beethoven’s letter to his publisher Schott, in which he writes that this quartet “has been merged and stolen left and right”. Later Beethoven would calm the startled publisher and sincerely declared that his quartet in c-sharp is ‘brand-new’.

Beethoven – String quartet in C-sharp, opus 131

1. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo – 2. Allegro molto vivace – 3. Allegro moderato – Adagio – 4. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile – Andante moderato e lusinghiero – Adagio – Allegro – Adagio, ma non troppo e semplice – Allegretto – 5. Presto – 6. Adagio quasi un poco andante – 7. Allegro

Performers: Amadeus Quartet

CD: DGG

Beethoven – String quartet in F, opus 135, parts 3 and 4

3. Lento assai, cantate e traquillo – 4. Der schwer gefasste Entschluss. Grave, ma non troppo tratto – Allegro – Grave, ma non troppo tratto – Allegro

Performers: Quatuor mosaïques

CD: Naïve