Beethoven: Late String Quartets Brodsky Quartet

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95 "Serioso":
• 1 String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95 "Serioso": I. Allegro con brio 04:22
• 2 String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95 "Serioso": II. Allegretto ma non troppo 07:59
• 3 String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95 "Serioso": III. Allegro assai vivace ma serioso 04:30
• 4 String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95 "Serioso": IV. Larghetto espressivo. Allegretto agitato 05:01
• String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130:
• 5 String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: I. Adagio ma non troppo. Allegro 13:04
• 6 String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: II. Presto 01:56
• 7 String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: III. Andante con moto ma non troppo 06:58
• 8 String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: IV. Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai 03:08
• 9 String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: V. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo 07:34
• 10 String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: VI. Finale. Allegro 09:31
• Große Fuge, Op. 133:
• 11 Große Fuge, Op. 133 15:02
• String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127:
• 12 String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: I. Maestoso. Allegro 06:42
• 13 String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: II. Adagio ma non troppo e molto cantabile 16:50
• 14 String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: III. Scherzando vivace 08:38
• 15 String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: IV. Finale. Allegro 07:12
• String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131:
• 16 String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: I. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo 07:22
• 17 String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: II. Allegro molto vivace 02:58
• 18 String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: III. Allegro moderato 00:42
• 19 String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: IV. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile 14:29
• 20 String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: V. Presto 04:46
• 21 String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: VI. Adagio quasi un poco andante 02:22
• 22 String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: VII. Allegro. Poco adagio 06:04
• String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132 "Heiliger Dankgesang":
• 23 String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132 "Heiliger Dankgesang": I. Assai sostenuto. Allegro 09:43
• 24 String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132 "Heiliger Dankgesang": II. Allegro ma non tanto 08:53
• 25 String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132 "Heiliger Dankgesang": III. Molto adagio. Andante 19:37
• 26 String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132 "Heiliger Dankgesang": IV. Alla marcia, assai vivace 02:01
• 27 String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132 "Heiliger Dankgesang": V. Allegro appassionato 06:28
• String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135:
• 28 String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: I. Allegretto 06:15
• 29 String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: II. Vivace 03:12
• 30 String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: III. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo 08:06
• 31 String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: IV. Grave, ma non troppo tratto. Allegro 06:38
• Total Runtime 03:48:03

Info for Beethoven: Late String Quartets

The late quartets are among the last works that Beethoven completed, and are considered by many as the pinnacle of his achievements as a composer, and among the greatest compositions of all time. The Russian prince Nikolai Galitzin wrote to Beethoven in November 1822, requesting ‘one, two or three new quartets, for which labor I will be glad to pay you what you think proper’. This commission resulted in the Quartets, Opp. 127, 132, and 130, after which he went on to write Quartets, Opp. 131 and 135,and then the substitute final movement for Op. 130, which replaced the Große Fugue that originally had ended that piece –and which Stravinsky described as ‘an absolutely contemporary piece of music that will be contemporary forever’. In this recording the Brodsky Quartet has chosen to include (emulating several other quartets) the Quartet,Op.95. Although this piece significantly pre-dates the others, in terms of innovation and compositional style it points strongly towards the later works. Since their formation in 1972, the Brodsky Quartet has earned –and maintained –a worldwide reputation for excellence and innovation. Exclusive Chandos recording artists, the Brodsky Quartet has won numerous awards and accolades, and remains committed to an extensive programme of educational work in addition to their hectic performing and recording schedules.

Brodsky Quartet

Brodsky Quartet Since its formation in 1972, the Brodsky Quartet has performed over 3000 concerts on the major stages of the world and has released more than 60 recordings. A natural curiosity and an insatiable desire to explore has propelled the group in a number of artistic directions and continues to ensure them not only a prominent presence on the international chamber music scene, but also a rich and varied musical existence. Their energy and craftsmanship has attracted numerous awards and accolades worldwide, while ongoing educational work provides a vehicle for passing on experience and staying in touch with the next generation.

Throughout their 40-year career, the Brodsky Quartet has performed at many of the UK's major festivals and venues, and is regularly recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio. The Quartet also has a busy international performing schedule, and has toured extensively throughout Australasia, North and South America, South Africa, and Europe. Over the years the Brodsky Quartet has, on numerous occasions, performed complete cycles of the quartets of Schubert, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Britten, Schoenberg, Zemlinsky, Webern and Bartok. They are perhaps best known, however, for their performances of the Shostakovich Quartets and therefore chose 2012, the year of their 40th anniversary, to revisit the repertoire and perform the cycle worldwide.

The Brodsky Quartet also has a busy recording career, and last season marked the beginning of a new and exclusive relationship with Chandos Records. The Quartet's first disc for the label, Petits Fours, was released in February 2012 and is a celebratory album of ‘Encore’ pieces, arranged exclusively by the Quartet for their 40th anniversary. In April 2012, Chandos released the Quartet's long-awaited recording of the great Debussy Quartet alongside Deux Danses arranged for harp and string quintet. This new collaboration with Chandos will help add to their already huge and diverse discography. Recent awards for recordings include the Diapason D'Or and the CHOC du Monde de la Musique for their recordings of string quartets by Britten, Beethoven and Janacek, and, for their outstanding contribution to innovation in programming, the Brodsky Quartet has received a Royal Philharmonic Society Award. They have taught at many international chamber music courses and held residencies in several music institutes, including the first such post at the University of Cambridge. They are currently International Fellows of Chamber Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and have been awarded Honorary Doctorates at the University of Kent and University of Teesside.

Booklet for Beethoven: Late String Quartets