Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
While not the first complete recorded cycle of the Beethoven String Quartets, the Amadeus Quartet's late-'50s early-'60s set of the complete Beethoven quartets may be the first great recorded cycle. The Amadeus Quartet was a part-Austrian, part-English ensemble that fused elegance and intelligence and expressivity with virtuosity to create a style of quartet playing wholly suited to the Viennese classics from Mozart through Brahms but which fit Beethoven like a hand-tailored suit. While other ensembles had recorded the Beethoven quartets before the Amadeus, none of those performances had the clarity and lucidity the Amadeus brought to them. Forty years later, the Amadeus' Op. 18 Quartets are still among the best ever recorded: graceful and gracious, witty and intelligent, polished and expressive, the Amadeus' performances embody all that is best in the "early" quartets. The Amadeus' Op. 59 is nearly as great: its complete control of tempo and texture clarifies the thematic and harmonic structures of the quartets and only in the most strenuous passages and deepest movements does the Amadeus seem ever so slightly out of its depths. Similarly, its Op. 74 is one of the most beautiful and expressive ever recorded, but it cannot quite express the unfettered fury of the Quartet Op. 95. Only in the "late" quartets does the Amadeus sound not entirely up to the challenge of Beethoven's music. While it plays it all superbly, there are times when it seems unable to get beneath the surface of the music to the spiritual depths below and one is left with the impression of great things left unsaid. For all the clarity and lucidity of the Amadeus' performance, there is a sense that it cannot quite face the ultimate profundities of late Beethoven.
© TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From €13,50/month
String Quartet No. 1 in F Major, Op. 18 No. 1 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
String Quartet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 18 No. 2 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 18 No. 3 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
DISC 2
String Quartet No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 18 No. 4 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
String Quartet No. 5 in A Major, Op. 18 No. 5 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
String Quartet No. 6 in B-Flat Major, Op. 18 No. 6 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
DISC 3
String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59 No. 1 "Rasumovsky No. 1" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Karl-Heinz Schneider, Producer, Recording Producer - Prof. Elsa Schiller, Producer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Karl-Heinz Schneider, Producer, Recording Producer - Prof. Elsa Schiller, Producer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Karl-Heinz Schneider, Producer, Recording Producer - Prof. Elsa Schiller, Producer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Karl-Heinz Schneider, Producer, Recording Producer - Prof. Elsa Schiller, Producer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
String Quartet No. 8 in E Minor, Op. 59 No. 2 "Rasumovsky No. 2" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Karl-Heinz Schneider, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Karl-Heinz Schneider, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Karl-Heinz Schneider, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Karl-Heinz Schneider, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
DISC 4
String Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59 No. 3 "Rasumovsky No. 3" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Heinz Wildhagen, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Wolfgang Lohse, Producer, Recording Producer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
String Quartet No. 10 in E Flat Major, Op. 74 "Harp" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
DISC 5
String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95 - "Serioso" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
String Quartet No. 12 in E Flat Major, Op. 127 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1963 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1963 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1963 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1963 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Grosse Fuge in B Flat Major, Op. 133 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1963 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer - Amadeus Quartet, Ensemble, MainArtist - Norbert Brainin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Schidlof, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Lovett, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Siegmund Nissel, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1963 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Album review
While not the first complete recorded cycle of the Beethoven String Quartets, the Amadeus Quartet's late-'50s early-'60s set of the complete Beethoven quartets may be the first great recorded cycle. The Amadeus Quartet was a part-Austrian, part-English ensemble that fused elegance and intelligence and expressivity with virtuosity to create a style of quartet playing wholly suited to the Viennese classics from Mozart through Brahms but which fit Beethoven like a hand-tailored suit. While other ensembles had recorded the Beethoven quartets before the Amadeus, none of those performances had the clarity and lucidity the Amadeus brought to them. Forty years later, the Amadeus' Op. 18 Quartets are still among the best ever recorded: graceful and gracious, witty and intelligent, polished and expressive, the Amadeus' performances embody all that is best in the "early" quartets. The Amadeus' Op. 59 is nearly as great: its complete control of tempo and texture clarifies the thematic and harmonic structures of the quartets and only in the most strenuous passages and deepest movements does the Amadeus seem ever so slightly out of its depths. Similarly, its Op. 74 is one of the most beautiful and expressive ever recorded, but it cannot quite express the unfettered fury of the Quartet Op. 95. Only in the "late" quartets does the Amadeus sound not entirely up to the challenge of Beethoven's music. While it plays it all superbly, there are times when it seems unable to get beneath the surface of the music to the spiritual depths below and one is left with the impression of great things left unsaid. For all the clarity and lucidity of the Amadeus' performance, there is a sense that it cannot quite face the ultimate profundities of late Beethoven.
© TiVo
About the album
- 7 disc(s) - 76 track(s)
- Total length: 07:58:59
- Main artists: Amadeus Quartet
- Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
- Label: Deutsche Grammophon (DG)
- Genre: Classical
- Collection: Collectors Edition
© 1999 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin ℗ 1999 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.