Album

While there is nothing to object to and much to appreciate in the Takács Quartet's recordings of Beethoven's late String Quartets, there is nothing to get particularly excited about, either. The Takács clearly has the aptitude to play Beethoven's technically most demanding quartets. The angularity of the Grosse Fuge and the hostility of the Quartet in F minor are handled with ability and agility. And they clearly have the tone and temperament to play Beethoven's most expressive quartets. The gravity of the Quartet in C sharp minor's opening Adagio and the serenity of the Quartet in B flat major's penultimate Cavatina are embodied in appropriate colors and shades. But the Takács does not touch the infinite in Beethoven's late quartets. The sublimity of the Quartet in A minor's "Heiliger Dankgesang" and the profundity of the Quartet in F major's Lento assai are not touched by the Takács Quartet. Nor does the Takács plumb the humanity in Beethoven's late quartets. The eccentric imagination of the Quartet in E flat major's variations and the explosive humor of the Quartet in F major finale are not sounded by the Takács. For performances that touch the heights and depths of Beethoven's late quartets, stick with the Alban Berg Quartet or the Quartetto Italian or the Végh Quartet. Decca's sound is rich and reverberant.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 3
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer String Quartet No.12 in Eb, Op.127 Work 35:10 Takács String Quartet String Quartet
1	1.Maestoso. Allegro	6:44			$0.99
2	2.Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile	14:28			$2.49
3	3.Scherzando vivace	7:34			$1.49
4	4.Finale: Allegro	6:24			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer String Quartet No.14 in C#-, Op.131 Work 38:52 Takács String Quartet String Quartet
5	1.Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo	7:58			$1.49
6	2.Allegro molto vivace	2:56			$0.99
7	3.Allegro moderato	0:42			$0.49
8	4.Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile	13:27			$2.49
9	5.Presto	5:02			$0.99
10	6.Adagio quasi un poco andante	2:17			$0.99
11	7.Allegro	6:30			$0.99
CD 2 of 3
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer String Quartet No.15 in A-, Op.132 ('Heiliger Dankgesang') Work 42:38 Takács String Quartet String Quartet
1	1.Assai sostenuto. Allegro	8:52			$1.49
2	2.Allegro ma non tanto	8:31			$1.49
3	3.Molto adagio ('Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der lydischen Ton')	17:10			$2.99
4	4.Alla marcia, assai vivace	2:03			$0.99
5	5.Allegro appassionato	6:02			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer String Quartet No.16 in F, Op.135 Work 24:37 Takács String Quartet String Quartet
6	1.Allegretto	6:13			$0.99
7	2.Vivace	3:16			$0.99
8	3.Lento assai e cantante tranquillo	7:49			$1.49
9	4.Der schwer gefasste Entschluß: Grave ma non troppo tratto. Allegro	7:19			$1.49
CD 3 of 3
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer String Quartet No.11 in F-, Op.95 ('Serioso') Work 20:28 Takács String Quartet String Quartet
1	1.Allegro con brio	4:23			$0.99
2	2.Allegretto ma non troppo	6:59			$0.99
3	3.Allegro assai vivace ma serioso	4:12			$0.99
4	4.Larghetto espressivo. Allegretto agitato	4:54			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer String Quartet No.13 in Bb, Op.130 ('Lieb') Work 33:39 Takács String Quartet String Quartet
5	1.Adagio ma non troppo. Allegro	13:53			$2.49
6	2.Presto	1:55			$0.49
7	3.Andante con moto ma non troppo	6:26			$0.99
8	4.Alla danza tedesca: Allegro assai	3:08			$0.99
9	5.Cavatina: Adagio molto espressivo	8:17			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Grosse Fuge for String Quartet in Bb, Op.133 Work Takács String Quartet String Quartet
10	Grosse Fuge for String Quartet in Bb, Op.133	14:28			$2.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer String Quartet No.13 in Bb, Op.130 ('Lieb') Work Takács String Quartet String Quartet
11	6.Finale: Allegro	9:19			$1.49