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| Beethoven: The Middle String Quartets | 
 enlarge | Creators: David Soyer, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Guarneri Quartet, Michael Tree, Arnold Steinhardt, John Dalley
Label: RCA
Category: Music
List Price: $33.98
Buy New: $21.99
You Save: $11.99 (35%)
Buy New/Used from $17.68
Avg. Customer Rating:  (5 reviews)
Sales Rank: 88760
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 5 x 0.9
UPC: 090266045723
EAN: 0090266045723
ASIN: B000003F10
Release Date: October 10, 1990
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
Disc 1
| • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 1 In F: Allegro | | • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 1 In F: Allegro vivace e sempre scherzando | | • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 1 In F: Adagio molto e mesto | | • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 1 In F: Theme russe: Allegro |
Disc 2
| • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 2 In E Minor: Allegro | | • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 2 In E Minor: Molto adagio | | • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 2 In E Minor: Allegretto | | • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 2 In E Minor: Finale: Presto | | • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 3 In C: Introduzione - Andante con moto; Allegro vivace | | • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 3 In C: Andante con moto quasi allegretto | | • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 3 In C: Menuetto: Grazioso | | • | Quartet Op. 59 'Rasumovsky', No. 3 In C: Allegro molto |
Disc 3
| • | Quartet Op. 74 'Harp' In E-Flat: Poco adagio Allegro | | • | Quartet Op. 74 'Harp' In E-Flat: Adagio ma non troppo | | • | Quartet Op. 74 'Harp' In E-Flat: Presto; Piu presto quasi prestissimo | | • | Quartet Op. 74 'Harp' In E-Flat: Allegretto con variazioni | | • | Quartet Op. 95 'Serious' In F Minor: Allegro con brio | | • | Quartet Op. 95 'Serious' In F Minor: Allegretto ma non troppo | | • | Quartet Op. 95 'Serious' In F Minor: Allegro assai vivace ma serioso | | • | Quartet Op. 95 'Serious' In F Minor: Larghetto espressivo; Allegretto agitato |
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| Customer Reviews:
The strongest performance by Guarneri of all B's string quartets May 9, 2006
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
These 60s recordings by the Guarneri Quartet are the strongest of Beethoven's string quartets they performed during that period, and possible thereafter. The dark textures of these "middle quartets" by Beethoven are brought out quite well. One reviewer complained about the sound engineering; I disagree. I personally am not a fan of digital recording, which tends to sound mechanical and artificial and lack warmth. These recordings are quite good, although occasionally there is some unevenness. Also, the viola is unfortunately the weakest of this particular band and robs the Beethoven quartets of the middle range, but thankfully not much. In short, if you want to own just one set of Beethoven's middle quartet recordings, this set is it.
 Outstanding '60s Performances of the Giants of Quartets September 15, 2001
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
Please see my review of the Guarneri Quartet performance of the Early Beethoven String Quartets, which applies to the whole set. One comment on the recordings themselves. I found the CD transfers produced more spatial clarity and as often is the case with transfers from the "Golden Age of Stereo", some of the expansiveness of the sound is lost. These were recorded in the late 60s, when the emphasis was on big, stereo sound with lots of separation and the CD process can be pretty brutal to some of these recordings. However, I certainly did not find them cramped as one reviewer did, and my only other observation, since I have the LPs, is a loss of some warmth, This, to my ear, has been more than compensated by improved spatial placing of the instruments. Altogether taken, they are splendid document and well worth a listen.
 Dry acoustic diminishes these recordings May 22, 2001
6 out of 14 found this review helpful
Unfortuntately, this recording is an example of 1960s sound engineering at its worst. The instruments are miked so closely and the sound is so bone-dry that the performances can scarcely be enjoyed. It's as if the quartet is sitting in a small room with those noise-reduction panels lining the walls, ceiling and floor.I recommend listeners look elsewhere -- there are plenty of recordings to choose from for these great pieces.
Adventurous musically? March 6, 2001
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
The middle quartets are not more "adventurous musically" than the late quartets: they are more accessible, more easy to enjoy without an effort, more user-friendly, less "adventurous musically." There are few cheap thrills in the late quartets and this may be what disappoints in Oak Park. I've been listening to the late quartets for more than 20 years and I still get lost. When I'm not up to the effort, I listen to the middle quartets because they are less demanding "musically."
I prefer the middle quartets over the late quartets September 8, 2000
7 out of 34 found this review helpful
OK, I'm not going to try to compare versions of the quartets because I only have the Guarneri quartets; I don't have the background on that. At this point I have the middle and late quartets on CD (even at a discount, getting the full set is a hefty investment). Having listened to both sets pretty much exclusively for the past couple weeks, I must say that I prefer the middle quartets to the late quartets. They seem to just be a bit more adventurous musically. My favorites are the quartet in C and the quartet in F.
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