2 Sem 2012 - Part Two

Artemis Quartet
Beethoven - Complete String Quartets

By Tom Pitsis
THE Beethoven Quartets for the next 100 years!
What an incredible, astounding achievement from The Artemis Quartet!
These virtuoso musicians (in technique AND feeling) have managed to make the whole bunch of these miraculous works by Beethoven sound like they were written today! From the earliest Opus 18 works to the final utterance - this set is in its entirety not only faultless, but revelatory to the highest degree. Beethoven has never sounded so witty, so soulful and so intelligent.
I don't know much about these musicians but I'm willing to bet there must be a leader who lays down the law when making performance decisions - I could very well be wrong, but a consensus or committee seldom come up with such consistently brilliant results.
Perfectly recorded - perfectly executed! The wit, drama, spirituality and passion all perfectly voiced.
The part-writing is also crystal clear - The playing of these great musicians has helped me discover inner voices in these great works that I've never noticed before - and I own and regularly listen to many complete sets of these works! The fast finales are as thrilling as roller-coaster rides - yet nothing is blurred - every note can be heard.
Beethoven's not even my favorite composer - Haydn, Bach and Mozart outrank him to my ears - but The Artemis Quartet have reminded me how great 4th place can be and make a strong case for Beethoven's promotion.
My highest recommendation and my heartfelt thanks to these great artists for all the work they must have put in - and for all the sensitivity, experience and wisdom they obviously possess and for their empathy in channeling Beethoven's soul! To have recorded such a stupendous cycle of these works at a time when the classical music recording industry is in dire straits is a tribute not only to the musicians themselves, but to Beethoven, Art, their teachers, the sound-engineers, *Virgin, and even us, the humble listeners. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU ARTEMIS and BUY! BUY! BUY! Classical Music Lovers!

By EMI Classics
This box set from the Artemis Quartet marks Virgin Classics’ first complete cycle of Beethoven String Quartets. Over the past two seasons, the Berlin-based Artemis Quartet has been performing Beethoven around the world, prompting reactions such as this one, from Die Zeit: “The members of the Artemis come as people who live life, and life is what they seek in Beethoven too.”
The first of the Artemis Quartet’s Virgin Classics CDs of Beethoven Quartets was released in Autumn 2005. Now, nearly six years later, the complete Beethoven cycle becomes available in a box of 7 CDs (TBC) which includes two previously unreleased items: the quartet No 10, op 74, known as the ‘Harp’, and a transcription for string quartet, proudly made by Beethoven himself, of the Piano Sonata No 9, op 14.
The 2010-11 season has seen the Artemis Quartet continuing with its two-year focus on live performances of Beethoven. By the end of the season, the ensemble will have recently performed Beethoven quartets in, among other cities, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, London, Paris, Brussels, Rome, Milan, Florence, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston and Los Angeles, and at the Schubertiade festival in Schwarzenberg (Austria).
Eckart Runge, cellist of the Artemis Quartet, expresses the players’ views on the composer’s quartets: “His music speaks to every era – it is a perfect dialogue between tradition and modernity, and between intellectual refinement and raw emotion … In relation to the time in which he lived, Beethoven is the most modern, provocative, experimental and boldest composer of all. Many have used the string quartet to experiment, to trial and develop their mode of composition … but none of them was more extreme than Beethoven. Even today, the Grosse Fuge remains one of the most incredible and most modern pieces of music ever written … No matter how complicated the form, one can always find essential human emotion in Beethoven, whether it is hopeful longing, apprehension, exuberant joy or shy affection.”
Beethoven’s extraordinary musical evolution is traced in the cycle, which remains the touchstone of the quartet repertoire. Die Zeit observed that the Artemis Quartet is: “An ensemble that, when compared to groups on a similar level of perfection, seems to approach the repertoire from another horizon. Many quartets convey an air in their playing of rarefied workmanship and detached refinement from the world. They explore the music within the notes. The members of the Artemis come as people who live life, and life is what they seek in Beethoven too.”
The Artemis’s debut release on Virgin Classics in 2005 comprised Beethoven’s op 59/1 and op 95, while the second release brought together op 59/2, the ‘Razumovsky’ Quartet, and the Quartet op 18/4. In France, the release was named CHOC of the Year by Le Monde de la Musique and was also awarded a Diapason d’Or; in Germany it became Chamber Music Recording of the Year in the ECHO Klassik awards of the Deutsche Phono-Akademie. In the UK, the Sunday Times praised the “fresh, positive responses” of the Artemis Quartet, saying: “ … their colours are vivid and they are alert to the music’s intent to push all sorts of boundaries to breaking point,” while BBC Radio 3’s CD Review suggested that the recording should go to the top of any list of recommendations

Track listing: 
Disc 1:
1 String Quartet No.1 in F major Op.18 No.1: I. Allegro con brio 9:05
2 String Quartet No.1 in F major Op.18 No.1: II. Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato 8:50
3 String Quartet No.1 in F major Op.18 No.1: III. Scherzo (Allegro molto) & Trio 4:00
4 String Quartet No.1 in F major Op.18 No.1: IV. Allegro 6:31
5 String Quartet Op.18 No.4 in C minor: I Allegro ma non tanto 8:22
6 String Quartet Op.18 No.4 in C minor: II Andante scherzo quasi allegretto 7:05
7 String Quartet Op.18 No.4 in C minor: III Minuetto (allegretto) 3:50
8 String Quartet Op.18 No.4 in C minor: IV Allegro 4:15
9 String Quartet Op.18 No.6 in B flat major: I. Allegro con brio 8:37
10 String Quartet Op.18 No.6 in B flat major: II. Adagio ma non troppo 7:43
11 String Quartet Op.18 No.6 in B flat major: III. Scherzo. Allegro - Trio 4:00
12 String Quartet Op.18 No.6 in B flat major: IV. La Malinconia. Adagio - attacca 3:21
13 String Quartet Op.18 No.6 in B flat major: V. Allegretto quasi allegro 4:23
Disc 2:
1 String Quartet No. 2 in G major Op. 18 No. 2: I. Allegro 7:41
2 String Quartet No. 2 in G major Op. 18 No. 2: II. Adagio cantabile 6:25
3 String Quartet No. 2 in G major Op. 18 No. 2: III. Scherzo (Allegro) & Trio 5:09
4 String Quartet No. 2 in G major Op. 18 No. 2: IV. Allegro molto, quasi presto 5:07
5 String Quartet No.3 in D Major Op.18 No.3: I. Allegro 7:22
6 String Quartet No.3 in D Major Op.18 No.3: II. Andante con moto 7:48
7 String Quartet No.3 in D Major Op.18 No.3: III. Allegro 2:47
8 String Quartet No.3 in D Major Op.18 No.3: IV. Presto 6:03
9 String Quartet No.5 in A Major Op.18 No.5: I. Allegro 10:23
10 String Quartet No.5 in A Major Op.18 No.5: II. Menuetto & Trio 4:47
11 String Quartet No.5 in A Major Op.18 No.5: III. Andante cantabile 9:36
12 String Quartet No.5 in A Major Op.18 No.5: IV. Allegro 6:11
Disc 3:
1 String Quartet No. 7 in F 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 1: I. Allegro 9:52
2 String Quartet No. 7 in F 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 1: II. Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando 8:44
3 String Quartet No. 7 in F 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 1: III. Adagio molto e mesto 12:09
4 String Quartet No. 7 in F 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 1: IV. Allegro (Thème russe) 7:28
5 String Quartet No. 8 in E minor 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 2: I. Allegro 12:42
6 String Quartet No. 8 in E minor 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 2: II. Molto adagio 11:58
7 String Quartet No. 8 in E minor 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 2: III. Allegretto 6:08
8 String Quartet No. 8 in E minor 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 2: IV. Finale (Presto) 5:04
Disc 4:
1 String Quartet No. 9 in C 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 3: I. Introduzione (Andante con moto) - Allegro vivace 10:44
2 String Quartet No. 9 in C 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 3: II. Andante con moto quasi allegretto 9:05
3 String Quartet No. 9 in C 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 3: III. Menuetto (Grazioso) & Trio 5:28
4 String Quartet No. 9 in C 'Razumovsky' Op. 59 No. 3: IV. Allegro molto 5:56
5 String Quartet Op.74: I. Poco adagio - Allegro 9:31
6 String Quartet Op.74: II Adagio ma non troppo 8:34
7 String Quartet Op.74: III. Presto 4:46
8 String Quartet Op.74: IV. Allegretto con variazioni 6:35
9 String Quartet No. 11 in F minor Op.95: I. Allegro con brio 4:02
10 String Quartet No. 11 in F minor Op.95: II. Allegretto ma non troppo 6:34
11 String Quartet No. 11 in F minor Op.95: III. Allegro assai vivace, ma serioso 4:08
12 String Quartet No. 11 in F minor Op.95: IV. Larghetto espressivo - Allegretto agitato - Allegro 4:21
Disc 5:
1 String Quartet No.12 in E flat major Op.127: I. Maestoso - Allegro 6:42
2 String Quartet No.12 in E flat major Op.127: II. Adagio ma non troppo, molto cantabile 14:50
3 String Quartet No.12 in E flat major Op.127: III. Scherzando vivace 8:07
4 String Quartet No.12 in E flat major Op.127: IV. Finale 6:32
5 String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 131: I. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo 7:42
6 String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 131: II. Allegro molto vivace 2:48
7 String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 131: III. Andante moderato 0:47
8 String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 131: IV. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile 12:50
9 String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 131: V. Presto 5:08
10 String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 131: VI. Adagio quasi un poco andante 1:54
11 String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 131: VII. Allegro 6:54
Disc 6:
1 String Quartet Op.130 in B flat major: I. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro 13:08
2 String Quartet Op.130 in B flat major: II. Presto 1:52
3 String Quartet Op.130 in B flat major: III. Poco scherzoso. Andante con moto ma non troppo 6:48
4 String Quartet Op.130 in B flat major: IV. Alla Danza tedesca. Allegro assai 3:03
5 String Quartet Op.130 in B flat major: V. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo 6:15
6 String Quartet Op.130 in B flat major: VI. Grosse Fuge Op.133. Ouverture. Allegro - Meno mosso e moderato - Allegro 15:00
7 String Quartet Op.14: I. Allegro moderato 6:56
8 String Quartet Op.14: II. Allegretto 3:37
9 String Quartet Op.14: III. Allegro 3:37
Disc 7:
1 String Quartet No. 15 in A minor Op. 132: I. Assai sostenuto - Allegro 9:32
2 String Quartet No. 15 in A minor Op. 132: II. Allegro ma non tanto 9:13
3 String Quartet No. 15 in A minor Op. 132: III. Molto adagio 16:27
4 String Quartet No. 15 in A minor Op. 132: IV. Alla marcia, assai vivace 2:02
5 String Quartet No. 15 in A minor Op. 132: V. Allegro appasionato 6:39
6 String Quartet No.16 in F major 'Muss es sein? es muss sein!' Op.135: I. Allegretto 6:25
7 String Quartet No.16 in F major 'Muss es sein? es muss sein!' Op.135: II. Vivace 3:20
8 String Quartet No.16 in F major 'Muss es sein? es muss sein!' Op.135: III. Lento assai e cantante tranquillo 6:29
9 String Quartet No.16 in F major 'Muss es sein? es muss sein!' Op.135: IV. Grave ma non troppo tratto - Allegro 7:06


Emerson String Quartet

Mendelssohn - The Complete String Quartets

By D. A Wend
Mendelssohn's string quartets are very appealing, tuneful works that engage the listener completely. Chamber music was an important part of Mendelssohn's output and one does not gain a full picture of his growth as a composer by only being familiar with his orchestral works. This 4-CD set by the Emerson String Quartet brilliantly explores not only the six numbered quartets but includes the shorter Op. 81 works (published after Mendelssohn's death), the student quartet (written when the composer was 14) and the stunning Octet for strings.
Naturally, the early quartets (written in 1827 and 1829 but published in reverse order in 1830) reflect the influence of other composers, most notably Beethoven. The movements of these quartets were linked by thematic ideas. The quartet in A minor uses Mendelssohn's song Frage (Question) as the musical link. The quartet in E-Flat (Op. 12) was composed during Mendelssohn's trip to the British Isles, which also inspired his Scottish Symphony and Hebrides Overture.
When Mendelssohn next turned to the form he was the director of the Gewandhaus and a famous composer. The composition of the three quartets Op. 44 (number 3, 4 and 5) occurred after his marriage to Cecile Jeanrenaud in 1837 and were composed during his two month long honeymoon. These quartets reflect the composer's maturity and accessible style. The sixth quartet was published after Mendelssohn's death and was written following the sudden death of his sister Fanny in May 1847. It follows that the quartet is darker than the others and is agitated and dissonant in tone; the first movement begins with dark tones from the cello then proceeds with a beautiful melody punctuated with tremolos. The scherzo is characterized by an unusual tempo that has a frantic quality to it. The Adagio allows Mendelssohn to fully express his grief and the Finale has the syncopated rhythm of the scherzo.
The five pieces collected as Op. 81 contain what probably are two movements for an unfinished quartet - a Theme and Variations in E major and Scherzo in A minor. It was reported by the composer Ignaz Moschelles that Mendelssohn was at work on a new string quartet before his death and of these two pieces the Theme and Variations is closest to the description of the work. The earliest of Mendelssohn's quartets appears last on the CDs and is a pleasant work written under the influence of Mozart and Haydn.
The Octet receives a marvelous performance with the Emerson playing all of the parts with each member playing different instruments and seated in different positions during the recording sessions.
The performances are impeccable with beautiful and clear sound. I purchased the set anticipating a performance of three of the quartets by the Emerson. As I have listened to the set the warmth and sensitivity of the playing makes this the Mendelssohn quartets to own. I have only become interested in chamber music in recent years and Mendelssohn was a natural choice for me because of his gift of melody. I think this music would appeal to someone getting to know chamber music.

By Deutsche Grammophon
2004 has been a great year for the Emerson Quartet. Sold-out concerts, rave reviews and excellent CD sales apart, they were recipients of the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize in April (bestowed by New York's Lincoln Center), the first ensemble, as opposed to solo artists, to be given this great honour.

Today the Emerson Quartet's exclusive recording catalogue on DG covers music from Bach to Edgar Meyer, and they have won numerous prestigious awards, including six Grammys and two Gramophone Record of the Year awards.
Now they return with a big 4-CD set, this time the complete Mendelssohn quartets. Like their Beethoven and Shostakovich complete cycles of 1997 and 2000 respectively, here is a set of recordings that will set new standards.
The Mendelssohn quartets - seven in all, plus individual movements - form an immensely engaging and exhilarating body of work. They range from the passionate utterances of the young composer (opp. 12 & 13) to the anguished outburst of a man devastated by the death of his beloved sister (F minor, op. 80). In between there are the chamber-music equivalents of works like the famous Italian Symphony (the D major op. 44 no. 1).
On the special bonus CD that comes in the package there's an absolute treat: the Emerson's recording of Mendelssohn's delightful Octet, a work brimming with energy and lyricism. How do four players play eight parts? Find out on the CD-R track, "Recording the Octet", a witty and enlightening eleven-minute documentary of eight Emersons in action - also included on the bonus CD.

Track List:
CD 1:
String Quartet No.2 in A minor, Op.13
1 1. Adagio; Allegro vivace [7:40]
2 2. Adagio non lento [7:53]
3 3. Intermezzo; Allegretto con moto [4:44] 

4 4. Presto [8:59]

Four Pieces for String Quartet, Op.81
5 4. Fuga [4:58] 

String Quartet No.1 in E flat, Op.12
6 1. Adagio non troppo; Allegro non tardante [7:54] 

7 2. Canzonetta: Allegretto [3:55]
8 3. Andante espressivo [3:57] 

9 4. Molto allegro e vivace [7:52]

CD 2:
String Quartet in E minor, Op.44, No.2
1 1. Allegro assai appassionato [10:34]
2 2. Scherzo. Allegro di molto [4:06]
3 3. Andante [6:05]
4 4. Presto agitato [6:20] 

String Quartet in E flat, Op.44, No.3
5 1. Allegro vivace [12:35]
6 2. Scherzo: Assai leggiero vivace [4:05]
7 3. Adagio non troppo [8:12]
8 4. Molto allegro con fuoco [8:23]

CD 3:
String Quartet in D, Op.44, No.1
1 1. Molto allegro vivace [12:55] 2
2. Menuetto. Un poco allegro [5:33]
3 3. Andante espressivo ma con moto [5:25]
4 4. Presto con brio [6:58]

Four Pieces for String Quartet, Op.81
5 3. Capriccio [5:52] 

String Quartet No.6 in F minor, Op.80
6 1. Allegro vivace assai [7:25] 

7 2. Allegro assai [4:24] 

8 3. Adagio [6:43]
9 4. Finale: Allegro molto [5:23]

Four Pieces for String Quartet, Op.81
10 1. Tema con Variazione [5:45]
11 2. Scherzo [3:26]

CD 4:
Octet in E flat, Op.20
1 1. Allegro moderato, ma con fuoco [13:43]
2 2. Andante [6:47]
3 3. Scherzo (Allegro leggierissimo) [4:14]
4 4. Presto [5:39] 

String Quartet in E flat major o. op.
5 1. Allegro moderato [8:49]
6 2. Adagio non troppo [5:15]
7 3. Minuetto - Trio - Minuetto [5:51]
8 4. Fuga [4:02]
9 Video Documentary: "Recording the Octet" [13:00]