Beethoven: String Quartets No. 1-6, Op. 18

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Enjoyable as other digital recordings of Beethoven's first quartets by (for example) the Takács and Lindsay Quartets are, this new Tokyo set just about pips all rivals to the post.
The reason... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 26th Nov 2007
Catalogue No: HMU907436/37
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Length: 2 hours 26 minutes

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 1 in F major, Op. 18 No. 1

Work length27:34

$4.40

$5.50

Tokyo String Quartet

I. Allegro con brio

Track length9:09

$1.20

$1.50

II. Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato

Track length8:53

$1.20

$1.50

III. Scherzo (Allegro molto) - Trio

Track length3:15

$1.00

$1.25

IV. Allegro

Track length6:17

$1.00

$1.25

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 2 in G major, Op. 18 No. 2

Work length22:34

$4.20

$5.25

Tokyo String Quartet

I. Allegro

Track length7:24

$1.20

$1.50

II. Adagio cantabile - Allegro

Track length5:39

$1.00

$1.25

III. Scherzo (Allegro) - Trio

Track length4:18

$1.00

$1.25

IV. Allegro molto, quasi presto

Track length5:13

$1.00

$1.25

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 18 No. 3

Work length22:39

$4.20

$5.25

Tokyo String Quartet

I. Allegro

Track length7:08

$1.20

$1.50

II. Andante con moto

Track length6:48

$1.00

$1.25

III. Allegro

Track length2:51

$1.00

$1.25

IV. Presto

Track length5:52

$1.00

$1.25

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18 No. 4

Work length23:18

$4.20

$5.25

Tokyo String Quartet

I. Allegro ma non tanto

Track length8:38

$1.20

$1.50

String Quartet No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4: II. Andante scherzoso quasi allegretto

Track length6:43

$1.00

$1.25

III. Menuetto (Allegro) - Trio

Track length3:29

$1.00

$1.25

IV. Allegretto – Prestissimo

Track length4:28

$1.00

$1.25

Beethoven: 6 String Quartets, Op. 18

Work length6:34

$1.00

$1.25

Tokyo String Quartet

6 String Quartets, Op. 18, String Quartet No. 5 in A Major, Op. 18, No. 5: I. Allegro

Track length6:34

$1.00

$1.25

Excerpt, Beethoven: String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18 No. 5

Work length20:51

$3.20

$4.00

Tokyo String Quartet

II. Menuetto - Trio

Track length4:49

$1.00

$1.25

III. Andante cantabile

Track length9:35

$1.20

$1.50

IV. Allegro

Track length6:27

$1.00

$1.25

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 18 No. 6

Work length23:09

$4.20

$5.25

Tokyo String Quartet

I. Allegro con brio

Track length5:52

$1.00

$1.25

II. Adagio ma non troppo

Track length6:29

$1.00

$1.25

III. Scherzo (Allegro) - Trio

Track length3:22

$1.00

$1.25

IV. Adagio "La Malinconia" - Allegretto quasi allegro

Track length7:26

$1.20

$1.50

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Reviews

2010

Enjoyable as other digital recordings of Beethoven's first quartets by (for example) the Takács and Lindsay Quartets are, this new Tokyo set just about pips all rivals to the post.
The reason is primarily one of balance, not only within the group itself but also in terms of overall musical judgement – whether relating to tempo, dynamics or emphases, or simply the way the players combine a sense of classical style with an appreciation of Beethoven's startling originality. Even as early as No 1's pensive opening, you notice how skilfully rests are being gauged, contrasts in colour and inflection, too: the way the clipped first motif leads into its sweetly imploring extension a couple of bars later. The Scherzo's skipping gait, incisive but lightly dispatched, is another source of pleasure, and so is the seemingly effortless swirl of the closing Allegro. The old quartet cliché about 'leaning together' is here a principal attribute.
At times it could be just one person playing.
The qualifying ma non tanto of the C minor's opening Allegro is pointedly observed: dramatic impact is sustained while composure is maintained.
The crispness of the Andante scherzoso and the cannily calculated crescendi at the start of the finale is oustanding. Few ensembles have characterised the A major's cantering first idea as happily as the Tokyos do here, while the ethereal and texturally variegated middle movements anticipate the very different world of Beethoven's 'late' quartets. Beautifully blended recordings, too: if you're after a top-ranking digital set of Op 18, you couldn't do better.

February 2008

…this new Tokyo set just about pips all rivals to the post. The reason is primarily one of balance, not only within the group itself but also in terms of overall musical judgement - whether relating to tempo, dynamics or emphases, or simply the way the players combine a sense of classical style with an appreciation of Beethoven's startling originality.

this release makes one look forward to the Tokyo's completion of what is, so far, a formidable traversal.

February 2008

The Tokyo Quartet here produce a sumptuous, beautifully blended sonority and perform with outstanding music insight, unanimity and polish.

Beethoven: String Quartets No. 1-6, Op. 18

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