Beethoven: String Quartets 1 - Alban Berg Quartet
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DVD Cover Information
Artist: Alban Quartet Berg, BeethovenDVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Classical, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 187 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-01-24
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: EMI Classics
Movie Reviews of Beethoven: String Quartets 1 - Alban Berg Quartet
Movie Review: THE AWESOME ABQ TRIUMPHANTLY 'RE-STARTS' BEETHOVEN'S STRING QUARTETS, LIVE!
Summary: 5 Stars
Five MAGNIFICENT Stars!! This stunning two-DVD set deserves Six Stars! This multiple award-winning classical string quartet, the Alban Berg Quartett, is composed of supreme musicians, who are also very prestigious teachers in Vienna. Gunter Pichler and Gerhard Schulz are on 1st and 2nd violins, respectively; Valentine Erben is on cello; and the late Thomas Kakuska is on viola. It is wonderful to see and hear any great chamber quartet but these men are in the class of very few string ensembles: ever! This is second time they have done "the cycle" and this time it's on DVD, recorded live in Vienna during 1989. This is Part 1 of 3 DVD sets.
Founded in 1971, the Viennese-based quartet deserves another sort of award for longevity, amid few personnel changes, since some similar string quartets have folded their tents during the ABQ's 35 year run. When I bought this DVD it was very pricey, but for two beautifully recorded, aurally perfect, stunningly performed discs, it is worth every penny. This DVD, detailing the ABQ playing a section of the Beethoven string quartet cycle, is A KEEPER. And I'm going after the complete cycle.
When these remarkable performances were recorded, the ABQ was totally prepared for the challenges of the Beethoven string quartets. "The 'Berg" literally work up a sweat as they elegantly, accurately, and furiously bow their way through these beautiful complex works of music. Their concept, cooperation, and command of nuance is BREATHTAKING to listen to and watch, as the music's volume ebbs and flows. My 'Piece De Resistance' favorites are all of the movements of No 10, E Flat Major, Opus 74 (Harp), which has stunning arco and pizzicato work, the overlapping instrumentation with each member taking the lead at times, and the tremendous demand on strength, patience, and timing. One hesitation and everything could collapse in on itself. But not here and not ever for these formidable musicians.
The camera cuts are numerous and riveting, the sound (Dolby Digital 5.0, DTS 5.0, or PCM stereo) is crystal clear, and the performances (one and all) are truly magnificent. (Region 1, NTSC. Liner notes in English, German, and French.) And let's not forget Mr Beethoven, himself, a true musical uber-genius who produced these most formidable of works amid personal turbulence and tragedy. Highly recommended. Six Stars!!!
(Notes:
*There are two other ABQ DVDs which complete the Beethoven string quartet cycle with Thomas Kakuska in the viola chair. Since this recording there has been one change in the ABQ lineup. With death approaching, Mr Kakuska stated his express wishes that the quartet continue performing and that his brilliant former student, Isabel Charisius, take the viola chair: both wishes were honored, thankfully.
* There is also a great box CD set of the complete Beethoven String Quartet cycle by the Berg, which features two incarnations of the ABQ with either original violist Hatto Beyerle (member from 1971 to 1981) or Thomas Kakuska (1981 to his death in 2005);
*Alban Berg, the quartet's namesake, is the famed "Second Viennese School" composer (after "First Viennese School"ers Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn). His widow graciously gave permission for the use of his name.)
Summary of Beethoven: String Quartets 1 - Alban Berg Quartet
The String Quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven are considered to be the greatest and most powerful testaments to the chamber music genre. The Alban Berg Quartett had already made studio recordings of all the Beethoven quartets for EMI Classics when the players thought they should risk remaking the cycle live for both audio and video. Recorded at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, these 1989 readings represent the quartet at their best; they are more intense and spontaneous than the studio efforts, and convey the atmosphere of their concerts.Volume 1 is presented on two DVDs: DVD 1 ? Op. 18, No. 4; Op. 131; Op. 18, No. 1. DVD 2 ? Op. 18, No. 3; Op. 130; Op. 74.
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.0, DTS 5.0, LPCM 2.0.
Booklet: Electronic PDF booklet in English, French, German, Spanish.
Format: All discs are DVD9.
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