The Late String Quartets, opp. 95, 127, 130–133 & 135

Album by Ludwig van Beethoven & Takács Quartet

The Late String Quartets, opp. 95, 127, 130–133 and 135 are a set of string quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven, composed between 1810 and 1826. They feature dense contrapuntal textures, expanded harmonic language and formal experimentation alongside intimate, reflective passages, representing the culmination of Beethoven's late style and reshaping the possibilities of the string quartet in music history.
First released: 2004

Tracklist

  1. 1.
    Quartet in F minor, op. 95 “Quartett[o] serioso”: I. Allegro con brio
    4:25
  2. 2.
    Quartet in A minor, op. 132: I. Assai sostenuto – Allegro
    8:55
  3. 3.
    Quartet in E‐flat major, op. 127: I. Maestoso – Allegro
    6:45
  4. 4.
    Quartet in A minor, op. 132: II. Allegro ma non tanto
    8:32
  5. 5.
    Quartet in E‐flat major, op. 127: II. Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile – Andante con moto – Adagio molto espressivo – Tempo I
    14:30
  6. 6.
    Quartet in F minor, op. 95 “Quartett[o] serioso”: II. Allegretto ma non troppo
    6:59
  7. 7.
    Quartet in F minor, op. 95 “Quartett[o] serioso”: III. Allegro assai vivace ma serioso
    4:12
  8. 8.
    Quartet in A minor, op. 132: III. “Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der lydischen Tonart”. Molto adagio – “Neue Kraft fühlend”. Andante – Molto adagio – Andante – Molto adagio (Mit innigster Empfindung)
    17:11
  9. 9.
    Quartet in E‐flat major, op. 127: III. Scherzo: Vivace
    7:34
  10. 10.
    Quartet in E‐flat major, op. 127: IV. Allegro – Allegro comodo
    6:31
  11. 11.
    Quartet in A minor, op. 132: IV. Alla marcia, assai vivace – Più allegro
    2:03
  12. 12.
    Quartet in F minor, op. 95 “Quartett[o] serioso”: IV. Larghetto espressivo – Allegretto agitato – Allegro
    5:00
  13. 13.
    Quartet in A minor, op. 132: V. Allegro appassionato – Presto
    6:09
  14. 14.
    Quartet in C‐sharp minor, op. 131: I. Adagio, ma non troppo e molto espressivo
    7:58
  15. 15.
    Quartet in B‐flat major, op. 130: I. Adagio ma non troppo – Allegro
    13:55
  16. 16.
    Quartet in C‐sharp minor, op. 131: II. Allegro molto vivace
    2:56
  17. 17.
    Quartet in F major, op. 135: I. Allegretto
    6:14
  18. 18.
    Quartet in B‐flat major, op. 130: II. Presto
    1:55
  19. 19.
    Quartet in F major, op. 135: II. Vivace
    3:18
  20. 20.
    Quartet in C‐sharp minor, op. 131: III. Allegro moderato
    0:42
  21. 21.
    Quartet in B‐flat major, op. 130: III. Andante con moto, ma non troppo
    6:26
  22. 22.
    Quartet in C‐sharp minor, op. 131: IV. Andante, ma non troppo e molto cantabile – Più mosso – Andante moderato e lusinghiero – Adagio – Allegretto – Adagio, ma non troppo e semplice – Allegretto
    13:27
  23. 23.
    Quartet in F major, op. 135: III. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo
    7:52
  24. 24.
    Quartet in B‐flat major, op. 130: IV. Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai
    3:09
  25. 25.
    Quartet in B‐flat major, op. 130: V. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo
    8:18
  26. 26.
    Quartet in C‐sharp minor, op. 131: V. Presto
    5:02
  27. 27.
    Quartet in F major, op. 135: IV. “Der schwer gefaßte Entschluß”. Grave, ma non troppo tratto – “Muß es sein?”. Allegro – “Es muß sein!”. Grave, ma non troppo tratto – Allegro
    7:19
  28. 28.
    Quartet in C‐sharp minor, op. 131: VI. Adagio quasi un poco andante
    2:17
  29. 29.
    Große Fuge, op. 133: Overtura: Allegro – Meno mosso e moderato – Allegro – Fuga: Allegro – Meno mosso e moderato – Allegro molto e con brio – Allegro
    14:34
  30. 30.
    Quartet in C‐sharp minor, op. 131: VII. Allegro
    6:30
  31. 31.
    Quartet in B‐flat major, op. 130: VI. Finale. Allegro
    9:19

Credits