Here's one on vinyl that few realize is a total delight - sonically and performance-wise. The Quartets Vol. 3 played by the Loewenguth Quartet on Vox Records (SVBX 544) three lp's with the purple "speakers" label. The playing is straightforward and sensitive, and the imaging / instrument separation is amazingly good - one of the best quartet recordings I have - mastered by Rudy Van Gelder, too.
Which is your fav Beethoven String Qt version?
I have the complete Quartetto Italiano set on CD, and one version of the Early Quartets Op18, Middle and Late Quartets (Vegh).
Not fully satisfied with the ones I had, I went looking to gather another version which would do justice to the complete cycle and I think I've found it with the Alan Berg version. Somehow this version seems to be paced "correctly" (I didn't fall asleep), and is well recorded on EMI. The music flows continuously and speaks to me. Highly recommended.
Not fully satisfied with the ones I had, I went looking to gather another version which would do justice to the complete cycle and I think I've found it with the Alan Berg version. Somehow this version seems to be paced "correctly" (I didn't fall asleep), and is well recorded on EMI. The music flows continuously and speaks to me. Highly recommended.