Studying Ludwig van Beethoven through his magnificent 16 string quartets played by well-established ensembles from around the world: the Guarneri, Takács, Tokyo, and Alban Berg string quartets. The string quartets offer well-defined early, middle, and late stages both in his life as well as the string quartet as a form, including the Grosse Fuge, Op. 133 (which Beethoven wrote while he was stone deaf), and the Cavatina from String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 18, No. 3 String Quartet, I & IV
Guarneri Quartet
The Early String Quartets Op. 18
RCA 60456; 7:56, 5:51
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 18, No. 1 String Quartet, I & II
Emerson String Quartet
Beethoven: The String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet
DG 447075; 8:31, 8:44
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 18, No. 2 String Quartet, I, III & IV
Alban Berg Quartet
Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 18 / Alban Berg Quartet
EMI 62781; 7:54, 4:26, 5:13
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 18, No. 4 String Quartet, IV
Tokyo String Quartet
The Tokyo String Quartet Plays Haydn And Mozart
RCA 61621; 4:18
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 18, No. 5 String Quartet, III & IV
Talich Quartet
Intégrale Des Quatuors / Le Quatuor Talich
Calliope 3633/9; 9:00, 5:10
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 18, No. 6 String Quartet, III & IV
Emerson String Quartet
Beethoven: The String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet
DG 447075; 2:58, 8:15
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 59, No. 1 String Quartet, I
Julliard Quartet
Juilliard String Quartet – The Complete EPIC Recordings 1956-66
Sony 87889; 10:37
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 59, No. 3 String Quartet, IV
Guarneri Quartet
Beethoven: Middle String Quartets / Guarneri Quartet
RCA 60457; 5:25
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 59, No. 2 String Quartet, III & IV
Fine Arts Quartet
The Fine Arts Quartet At WFMT
Music & Arts 1154; 7:26, 5:18
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 59, No. 3 String Quartet, II
Emerson String Quartet
Beethoven: Complete String Quartets
DG 447075; 8:49
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 74 String Quartet, I
Takács Quartet
String Quartets “Razumovsky” Op. 59, 1 – 3 / Harp, Op. 74
Decca 470847; 9:36
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 95 String Quartet
Alban Berg Quartet
Schubert – String Quintet in C / Alban Berg Quartet · Schiff
EMI 54592; 19:30
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 95 String Quartet (excerpt)
Alban Berg Quartet
Schubert – String Quintet in C / Alban Berg Quartet · Schiff
EMI 54592; 2:05
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 127 String Quartet, I
Guarneri String Quartet
Beethoven: Late String Quartets / Guarneri Quartet
RCA 60458; 7:11
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 130 String Quartet, IV
Emerson String Quartet
Beethoven: The String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet
DG 447075; 7:12, :20
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 131 String Quartet
Emerson String Quartet
Beethoven: The String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet
DG 447075; 0:35:43
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 130 (excerpt) Op. 133 “Grosse Fuge”
Emerson Quartet
Beethoven: The String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet
DG 447075; 3:48, 14:41
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 132 String Quartet, “Heilige” III
Fine Arts Quartet
The Fine Arts Quartet At WFMT
Music & Arts 1154; 16:08
Ludwig van Beethoven: Op. 135 String Quartet, III & IV
Alban Berg Quartet
Beethoven: Late String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet
EMI 76824; 8:50, 5:44