Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets Vol. 1

They play with extraordinary strenuousness, very unlike the Alban Berg Quartet with whom they studied. The Belceas re-enact the creative torments of the composer to a degree where you feel their... — BBC Music Magazine, February 2013, More…

Release Date: 12th Nov 2012
Catalogue No: ZZT315
Label: Zigzag
Series: Belcea Quartet Complete Beethoven String Quartets
Length: 3 hours 52 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

19th November 2012
Building a Library

October 2013

First Choice
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2013

Finalist - Chamber

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

24:20

$5.25

$6.50

$8.00

Belcea Quartet
Recorded: 3-4 December 2011
Recording Venue: Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, England

I. Allegro con brio

6:06

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

II. Adagio, ma non troppo

6:51

$1.05

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$1.60

III. Scherzo. Allegro

3:09

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

IV. La malinconia. Adagio

3:20

$1.05

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V. Allegretto quasi allegro

4:54

$1.05

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Beethoven: String Quartet No. 12 in E flat major, Op. 127

38:28

Album only

Belcea Quartet
Recorded: 3-4 December 2011
Recording Venue: Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, England

I. Maestoso - Allegro

6:48

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

II. Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile

16:52

Album only

III. Scherzando vivace

7:42

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

IV. Finale

7:06

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

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

24:15

$4.75

$5.85

$7.20

Belcea Quartet
Recording Venue: Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, England

I. Allegro

8:09

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

II. Adagio cantabile

5:53

$1.05

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III. Scherzo. Allegro

4:27

$1.05

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IV. Allegro molto, quasi presto

5:46

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Beethoven: String Quartet No. 9 in C major, Op. 59 No. 3 'Rasumovsky No. 3'

31:49

$5.30

$6.50

$8.00

Belcea Quartet
Recorded: 23, 25 March 2012
Recording Venue: Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, England

I. Andante con moto - Allegro vivace

10:49

$1.60

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II. Andante con moto quasi allegretto

10:07

$1.60

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III. Menuetto & Trio

5:01

$1.05

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IV. Allegro molto

5:52

$1.05

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$1.60

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 11 in F minor Op. 95 'Serioso'

20:35

$4.75

$5.85

$7.20

Belcea Quartet
Recorded: 3-4 December 2011
Recording Venue: Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, England

I. Allegro con brio

4:26

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

II. Allegretto ma non troppo

7:10

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

III. Allegro assai vivace, ma serioso

4:09

$1.05

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$1.60

IV. Larghetto espressivo - Allegretto agitato - Allegro

4:50

$1.05

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Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131

38:03

$9.00

$11.05

$13.60

Belcea Quartet
Recording Venue: Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, England

I. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo

7:14

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

II. Allegro molto vivace

3:09

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

III. Allegro moderato

0:43

$1.05

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IV. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile

13:24

$2.15

$2.60

$3.20

V. Presto

4:47

$1.05

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$1.60

VI. Adagio quasi un poco andante

2:03

$1.05

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VII. Allegro

6:43

$1.05

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

30:27

$5.85

$7.15

$8.80

Belcea Quartet
Recorded: 23, 25 March 2012
Recording Venue: Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, England

I. Allegro con brio

9:16

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

II. Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato

11:18

$2.15

$2.60

$3.20

III. Scherzo. Allegro molto

3:26

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

IV. Allegro

6:27

$1.05

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$1.60

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

25:02

$5.30

$6.50

$8.00

Belcea Quartet
Recorded: 18-19 May 2012
Recording Venue: Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, England

I. Allegro, ma non tanto

8:34

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

II. Andante scherzoso, quasi allegretto

8:17

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

III. Menuetto. Allegretto

3:36

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

IV. Allegro

4:35

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

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Recording of the Week, Belcea Quartet launch their Beethoven cycle

19th November 2012

Excellent ensemble and complete sympathy and understanding between the players are the hallmarks of this projected complete cycle by the former BBC New Generation Artists, who have been winning plaudits galore for their live performances of these works over the past few years.

In 2001, Zig-Zag Territoires had already perceived the singularity as well as the potential of this ensemble, which had just won the Bordeaux International Quartet Competition. That first encounter had resulted in a very fine disc devoted to the quartets of Janaček, widely hailed by the critics (Diapason d’Or).

In the ensuing eleven years, the Belcea Quartet built up a large repertoire and initiated a discography with our colleagues at EMI that attracted considerable attention. Thus this is a particularly propitious moment to implement a new, confident, long-term partnership between Belcea and ZZT.

This collaboration is beginning with a complete recording of the Beethoven Quartets, a founding cycle if ever there was one.

The Belcea Quartet began a worldwide tour focussing on this cycle that will continue through the end of the 2012-13 season.

The second volume will follow in 2013.

Reviews

February 2013

They play with extraordinary strenuousness, very unlike the Alban Berg Quartet with whom they studied. The Belceas re-enact the creative torments of the composer to a degree where you feel their instruments might suffer...the magnificent cellist Antoine Lederlin cultivates a roudned tone, even under pressure, but the overall effect is of a lean, muscular sound

January 2013

I'm particularly impressed by the Belcea's close attention to dynamics...Their playing may have a very different sound from the string quartets of Beethoven's day but the way the music breathes and moves gives a clear picture of his intentions...this promises to be an outstanding set - not the last word on these endlessly fascinating works, perhaps, but performances of great artistry and perception.

19th November 2012

This is really very fine quartet playing, with excellent ensemble and complete sympathy and understanding between the players. They’re not afraid to change their sound frequently and sometimes violently to best express the nature of the music, and the sweetest, most singing and beautiful tone is made all the more so when contrasted against the earthy, grainy sonority at other moments.

11th November 2012

Tuning remains pristine throughout...Faultless and unsettling.

Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets Vol. 1

4 CDs

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Recording of the Week, Belcea Quartet launch their Beethoven cycle