59 No. The Alexander group use less vibrato than my favorite Alban Berg readings, and the tone sounds a bit tedious, raw and naïve at times. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. You couldn't really ask for anything more from this type of recording. Some of the tempo choices are odd, especially the sudden ritardandos, reminds me of Otto Klemperer's late performances, which very often ruins the inner coherence and tension of these great pieces. Belongs in every classical music fan's collection. Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2006. These guys are incredible... chops ...musicality..ensemble tightness..inspiration . To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. 3. 130. Some good examples are in the Allegro in Op. 9, the third “Razumovsky” Quartet, which is taken at a whiplash tempo. The earlier pieces, being light entertainment, are no more challenging than the pop music of today for its audiences. Where have they been all my life? 95, 3. BTW, Bromberger writes the notes for "Homage". Thus, I am not an expert. But by striving for more, they asserted that the Alexander Quartet more often hit the Beethovenian heights and some even claimed that the Molto adagio from Opus 58 No. Their generic flaws, while minor, turn up in the recordings, as well as at performances: the rather cavalier attitude toward intonation from first violinist Zakarias Grafilo, and the occasional exaggerated dynamic playing of cellist Sandy Wilson. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. The quality of the recording is not bad and the musicianship is outstanding. 130, Fugue for string quartet in B flat major ("Grosse Fuge"), Op. 127, 2. It really is a bit too much. They have the lightness of touch necessary to recreate the light confections of the quartet's court beginnings as well as the skills to keep up with the gradually escalating difficulties in form and emotion. Cent. What was obvious, according to Paul Yarbrough of the Alexander String Quartet, is that the later works are as much a reflection of his physical state of mind as his psychological and emotional. That’s noteworthy in the six quartets of Beethoven’s early Op. 133, as closer to the B-flat Quartet, Op. 18 set. 18 set and the trailblazing late quartets, but it seems to me that the Alexander get it right, or mostly so, throughout the complete sixteen quartets. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2017. Alexander String Quartet 0 Comments Beethoven’s music can be played in many ways: by emphasizing its sheer momentum by tearing ahead, or its dramatic dynamic shifts by overdoing the extremes a bit, or its contemplative virtues by taking time to sniff the daisies along the way. The big seller for most people is the length of the average string quartet. 1 is also performed with considerable warmth, though it’s a pity that the first violin’s pitch slightly wavers on a high C near the coda. This set of the Beethoven Quartets played by the San Francisco-based Alexander String Quartet was recorded in the mid-1990s and then was not available for a while. As he aged, Beethoven became even more uncompromising in his concessions to both his audience and those who sought to perform his work. All in all, this set would be tough to resist at any price. Don't be put off by the bargain price. Find release reviews and credits for Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets - Alexander String Quartet on AllMusic - 2010 Of the many editions of these quartets, this is in my opinion definitely the best. Even more satisfying is their ability not to equate loudness with strength of emotion, rather letting the music speak for itself. Good overall, but still lacking something essential, Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2014. I read the reviews of performers and kept learning about the Alexander String Quartet. No kidding. It was no easy choice! These are packaged in a general slipcover. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. Based on these notes I have now purchased the Alexander String Quartet's "Homage: Mozart". Allegro assai vivace ma serioso. You can't go wrong here. 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