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JANSMUSIC RECOMMENDED RECORDING

Beethoven: The late quartets, Vol.2
Lindsay String Quartet
ASV CD DCA 602
Quartet No.13 in B flat, Op.130; Grosse Fuge in B flat, Op.133

I found this CD intriguing because I thought I knew Beethoven's quartets as well as anyone could, but I guess I got to know the Opus 18 and 59 - it was in September I reviewed the Rasumovksy 2 & 3 on the site.  Again I find myself recommending a "volume 2" of a series.  I must get round to doing some
"volume 1s"! 

Anyhow here we are listening to the Lindsays again.  I like their sound.  Light and springy, while acknowledging the passion of the music.  They're not afraid to play "what you see is what you get" so if occasionally if one note in a run is slightly out of key, or the sound is a little raw, you accept this as part of a "live" performance.  Not for me this heavily edited stuff we are churning out nowadays!

I said in my Rasumovsky review that Beethoven's quartets serve to show me more about the composer himself than any of his other works and I stick by that, perhaps even more so. This CD is an interesting mix of styles - there is still the sweetness of melody - tracks 1 & particularly track 3 which is amusing and light-hearted) and the playfulness of the scherzo (track 2).  The fourth movement harks back to the pastoral symphony with its rustic theme which speaks of summer and green fields and forest walks, and the tender, heartwrenching 5th is played with just the right amount of respect and feeling - this has to be up there with all great Adagios of our time.

For me it's the Grosse Fuge that is the most interesting movement because I think it says more about the composer's natural state of mind.  This was the original final movement for the 13th quartet, but it was replaced by another movement (here presented after the fugue).  It's a huge 16 minutes, full of passion and intensity, and goes through varying moods - I love this really meaty writing. The substitute movement is lighter, and shorter (and not as interesting!).