Beethoven Complete String Quartets. All 16 of the string quartets performed 2012 over 12 days (Große Fuge not counted separately) by the Belcea Quartet at the Wiener Konzerthaus. Quartet members were Corina Belcea, violin; Axel Schacher, violin; Krzystof Chorzelszki, viola; and Antoine Lederlin, cello. 4-disc set has a 47-minute documentary "On the Paths of the Beethoven String Quartets." Music recording directed for TV by Frédéric Delesques. Released 2014 and 2020, discs have 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+
We have not had much chamber music published in Blu-ray. This Beethoven Complete String Quartets has been the most important exception. The original version came in a fancy box in 2014. It sold fairly well and then was discontinued. There was a lively after-market for the 2014 box (new or used) which was bid up considerably higher than the original retail price (a collectors item). We wrote EuroArts several times urging them to print more copies, but never heard anything back.
In May 2020, we noted that this is coming out again at a lower price point, probably in a plastic Amaray-stylebox . We are not absolutely sure, but we think the 2 images on the left of our gallery above show the new box. The 3 images on the right are of the old box.
Wonk Lewis Chang recently watched all 4 discs from this set over several weeks. He sent me two emails (slightly edited) which together make up a splendid review of the Belcea box.
Message 1:
“For the months of March, April and the first half of May (2020), I have tickets to 5 symphony and opera performances that are cancelled (due to the pandemic). But as I watched the phenomenal Belcea Quartet's Beethoven String Quartets on TV, I could not help but feel how privileged and how lucky I am to have music and art at my fingertips.
I cannot fathom what the four members of the Belcea Quartet have accomplished. These 4 very separate individuals, with a combination of more than 100 years of practicing their musical instruments, came together as if they were tied together with a string (no pun intended), and were running together in a tight group while passing wine glasses back and forth and drinking that wine, without spilling a single drop, while all were smiling and keeping communication via their eyes and body language, never tripping one another for a second, and in front of a live audience!
Then I see them like four friends at a table playing blackjack against the dealer named Beethoven. They had practiced; they were ready. Their eyes talked to one another in perfect harmony without uttering a word, they had a goal to conquer (or survive) the dealer, they were at the top of their game! The video cut to a close-up of a player's eyes and I could almost see the thinking process, then cut to a close-up of cards in hands, then pulled back to see how players faced the dealer, and finally veered to players taking turns revealing their cards. I was witnessing art in its highest form, a drama.
I was on a journey with these musicians via a series of images. Perhaps this was made easier because there are only 4 musicians on stage. No matter how the camera person composes and changes the shot, the information is never overwhelming. After a while, you see beauty in every shot. The close-up of the viola, the interaction between two violin players, a view of the bow, a bird's eye view of the quartet. And then the close-up of that viola again! So happy to revisit that viola.
Regardless, Beethoven's unbelievable scores are what truly matters. I think the video editor knew the scores perfectly. That absolutely enhances the viewing pleasure. Did she edit the recording perfectly? When the music and the musicianship are at its highest, there is no room to think about that question. I am too much in awe to have that question in my head.
That's how I felt after finishing the first disc. Three to go.”
Message 2:
I've finished viewing the 16 quartets. Here are my concluding thoughts.
Visuals help speed up understanding and appreciation for serious, mature chamber music. When I first listened to Beethoven’s string quartets on CDs, I didn't really understand the communication and tension between players. My ears weren't mature enough to know how to 'listen' to them. But with visual aid, I see all kinds of interaction among players. Finally I realized how astonishing these quartets are — so inventive and so powerful! Even without the volume of symphony or opera music, they made me hold my breath sometimes.
Chamber music on Blu-ray is such a gift! I wish there were more like this Beethoven set.
Thank you again Lewis for these thoughts which aptly support one of the main themes of this website: that seeing musical performances always will enhance the hearing of them (provided the video is wisely made). Based on your comments and the excellent reputation of this 4-disc set, this gets an A+.
For the 2020 standard-packaged release, purchase below:
OR
For more information on the 2014 luxury-packaged release, click below: