Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Beethoven Complete String Quartet Vol.1 - Belcea String Quartet

Beethoven
Performer: Belcea String Quartet
Label: Zig Zag Territoires
Release: October 2012

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Have been a devoted to Beethoven cycle for years on stage, the Belcea String Quartet is now putting their work into recording. They recorded with Zig Zag Territoires and their Beethoven programme is out now. Animated and fresh is their renderition to the cycle.

“Tuning remains pristine throughout...Faultless and unsettling.” - The Independent Nov 2012

"The profound and subtle way these young players engage with the later, greater music [of Schubert] is the most impressive thing I’ve yet heard from them." - Duncan Druce, Gramophone

"The Belcea Quartet is a young ensemble that, on the evidence of this disc, has an affinity for Brahms' often knotty chamber works...The Belcea's C minor quartet is trumped by its performance of the Op. 111 Quintet, where the opening movement is executed with a welcome sense of easeful power and direction. The middle movements receive a balanced sonority and relaxed fluidity that suits the music wonderfully"
- Dan Davis, ClassicsToday.com

"With this impressive Schubert release the Belcea Quartet has now firmly established their position within this premier league of chamber ensembles. Their splendid unison and beautiful tone is a consistent feature together with their impressive ability to communicate the music to the listener. [T]his release deserves considerable praise."- Michael Cookson, MusicWeb International

pieces:
CD 1
String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 18 No. 6
String Quartet No. 12 in E flat major, Op. 127
CD 2
String Quartet No. 2 in G major, Op. 18 No. 2
String Quartet No. 9 in C major, Op. 59 No. 3 'Rasumovsky No. 3'
CD 3
String Quartet No. 11 in F minor Op. 95 'Serioso'
String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131
CD 4
String Quartet No. 1 in F major, Op. 18 No. 1
String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18 No. 4