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Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13, Op. 130 with Große Fuge; String Quartet No. 16, Op. 135

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String Quartet No. 13 In B-Flat Major, Op.130 With Grosse Fuge: I. Adagio, ma non troppo - Allegro
String Quartet No. 13 In B-Flat Major, Op.130 With Grosse Fuge: II. Presto
String Quartet No. 13 In B-Flat Major, Op.130 With Grosse Fuge: III. Andante con moto, ma non troppo. Poco scherzoso
String Quartet No. 13 In B-Flat Major, Op.130 With Grosse Fuge: IV. Alla danza tedesca, Allegro assai
String Quartet No. 13 In B-Flat Major, Op.130 With Grosse Fuge: V. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo
String Quartet No. 13 In B-Flat Major, Op.130 With Grosse Fuge: VI. Grosse Fuge, Op. 133 - Overtura. Allegro-Fuga
String Quartet No. 16 In F Major, Op.135: I. Allegretto
String Quartet No. 16 In F Major, Op.135: II. Vivace
String Quartet No. 16 In F Major, Op.135: III. Lento assai, e cantante tranquillo
String Quartet No. 16 In F Major, Op.135: IV. Grave ma non troppo tratto-Allegro

Average customer rating: 5 stars

Wonderfully Played

The Grosse Fugue is a superb piece of music and the Juliard Quartet pulls it off flawlessly. Sound quality is excellent and cover and disc design are beautiful (the CD is painted a flat black).

Sublime

I still have the Julliard Quartet lp set of the Beethoven middle quartets -- and their much-acclaimed first set of the Bartok quartets among other fine lps -- but this is the first Julliard CD I have acquired. I was persuaded by the Gramophone review, which seemed to indicate that the substitue allegro finale was included after the Grosse Fuga, and all was followed by the Op. 135. Well, not quite. The Grosse Fuga is indeed the (rightful) finale of Op. 130. The disc then moves on to Op.135. I believe their complete set of the Late Quartets does offer the allegro as an encore. Recordings by the Lindsay, Brandis, and Vegh Quartets also offer that arrangement, and all are worth the money.

This Julliard disc is also worth it's price, and more. Much, much more. Warmth and depth characterize these performances -- even the cover photo seems to capture the glow of this disc. I have never heard the Julliard Quartet sound so, well, beautiful. Energetic, powerful, articulate -- yes, always, but never have I associated such beautiful sound as this disc contains with this ensemble.

Make room in your collection for this one.