Beethoven: The Middle String Quartets AV2318

Disc 1
String Quartet Op.59, No.1

Disc 2
String Quartet Op.59 No.2
String Quartet Op.59 No.3

Disc 3
String Quartet Op.74 'Harp'
String Quartet Op.95 'Serioso'

Following three acclaimed releases for AVIE surveying works by Dvořák, Schubert and contemporary Americans, the San Francisco-based Cypress String Quartet turns to the seminal string quartets of Beethoven, performing the five quartets from the composer’s middle period. Formed in 1996, the Cypresses added Beethoven to their repertoire early on. Their signature sound, which is clear and transparent, built up from the bottom register and layered like a pyramid, lends itself beautifully to the Middle String Quartets – the three “Rasumovskys,” the “Harp,” and the “Serioso.”

Included in this new box set - released internationally on November 11, 2014 on Avie Records - are original, extensive and insightful program notes written by Nicholas Mathews, professor at UC Berkeley.
Download Liner Notes Here (.pdf) / (.doc)

Check the Avie Records website for more information about this album and other recent Cypress Quartet releases.

SAMPLES / TRACK LISTING

    Disc 1 [Op. 59 No.1] 40:31 total

     
  • Beethoven 59-1-1 1. String Quartet Op.59 No.1, I: Allegro 10:18
  • Beethoven 59-1-2 2. String Quartet Op.59 No.1, II: Allegro vivace e sempre scherzando 9:24
  • Beethoven 59-1-3 3. String Quartet Op.59 No.1, III: Adagio molto e mesto - 12:36
  • Beethoven 59-1-4 4. String Quartet Op.59 No.1, IV: Allegro (Theme Russe) 8:12

    • Disc 2 [Op.59 Nos. 2 and 3] 66:31 total

     
  • Beethoven 59-2-1 1. String Quartet Op.59 No.2, I: Allegro 9:14
  • Beethoven 59-2-2 2. String Quartet Op.59 No.2, II: Molto adagio 12:30
  • Beethoven 59-2-3 3. String Quartet Op.59 No.2, III: Allegretto 7:08
  • Beethoven 59-2-4 4. String Quartet Op.59 No.2, IV: Finale: Presto 5:38
  • Beethoven 59-3-1 5. String Quartet Op.59 No.3, I: Introduzione: Andante con moto - Allegro vivace 11:03
  • Beethoven 59-3-2 6. String Quartet Op.59 No.3, II: Andante con moto, quasi allegretto 9:36
  • Beethoven 59-3-3 7. String Quartet Op.59 No.3, III: Menuetto: Grazioso - Trio 5:03
  • Beethoven 59-3-4 8. String Quartet Op.59 No.3, IV: Allegro molto 6:04

    • Disc 3 [Op.74 and Op.95]

    51:46 total
  • Beethoven 74-1 1. String Quartet Op.74, I: Poco adagio - Allegro 9:36
  • Beethoven 74-2 2. String Quartet Op.74, II: Adagio ma non troppo 9:01
  • Beethoven 74-3 3. String Quartet Op.74, III: Presto 5:10
  • Beethoven 74-4 4. String Quartet Op.74, IV: Allegretto con variazioni 6:50
  • Beethoven 95-1 5. String Quartet Op.95, I: Allegro con brio 4:30
  • Beethoven 95-2 6. String Quartet Op.95, II: Allegretto ma non troppo 7:13
  • Beethoven 95-3 7. String Quartet Op.95, III: Allegro assai vivace, ma serioso 4:30
  • Beethoven 95-4 8. String Quartet Op.95, IV: Larghetto espressivo - Allegretto agitato - Allegro 4:47
2:38:47 total running time