AmericanStringQuartet- Beethoven op.131

American String Quartet, Beethoven op.131. Live at Tel Aviv Museum, January 2013

Violin- Peter Winograd, Laurie Carney
Viola - Dan Avshalomov
Cello - Wolfram Koessel

[alhfgsp]

Beethoven somehow made even more musical discoveries when deaf than when he had his hearing. This is a feat of genius that I struggle to comprehend.

[jjmusic]

Beethoven's late stuff sounds like his heart is so full of gratitude, despite very serious setbacks throughout his life. This opus seems to depict that attitude specifically. To be grateful, to be triumphant, despite everything.

[michaelwagner]

Everybody doesn't have to be super intelligent to love this music

[ttestates]

Imagine writing something like this while deaf
Beethoven is the GOAT!

[Jpsbs]

I absolutely adore Beethoven's Late Period works! The 5 late string quartets and his 5 late piano sonatas are my favorite works. They are very introspective and ethereal, especially the slow movements. In my opinion, besides the Missa Solemnis and 9th symphony. ..they ARE his masterworks. Beethoven forever!

[rclaughlin]

Nobody could bring a sense of drama to "absolute music" like Beethoven.

[charschindler]

I watched Immortal Beloved last evening.  In one particular scene Beethoven is speaking with Anton Schindler about music.  He says, "It is the power of music to carry one directly into the mental state of the composer.  The listener has no choice. It is like hypnotism."  I wonder at his mental & emotional state while composing this and while profoundly deaf.  Miraculous.

[NiPaVou]

The way Beethoven makes these transitions from "light" and "happy" themes to dark, melancholic even desperate at some points, and the opposite is stunning. This transition from 5th movement to 7th is miraculous. It tears my heart apart every time i listen to it.

[mjkimization]

0:00 Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo
6:32 Allegro molto vivace
9:37 Allegro moderato
10:28 Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile
24:25 Presto
29:45 Adagio quasi un poco andante
31:37 Allegro

[Naz-ghnm]

They came to my school and my ears were in heaven

[notaire]

Highly sophisticated live performance with perfect precision and unity, without superfluous romanticism. I like it!

[edcedera]

Always a conversation with Ludvig, and such a conversation...Thank you.

[chiprahn]

Best rendition I've heard yet. These 4 seem to understand the true emotion of each movement better than anyone else I've heard performing this quartet.

[BurningPandama]

29:45 for that part that is in band of brothers

[ericgray]

So every time I pull this up, I'm like "welp, there's 38 minutes of my life well spent".

[nmeelen]

Beethoven considered this one his best stringquartet. I love all his stringquartets. The Albag Berg Quartet is still the standerd in my opinion. To be honest, I love everything Beethoven  has composed!

[emmarose]

This is my fav piece of music ever written. He was a genius

[EricDG]

This was actually Beethoven's favorite of all of his compositions

[pharmboyz]

I have read this story about this string quartet, but I cannot vouch for its truth: In the 1790s (as most of you know) LVB lived in many different flats in Vienna. One of his living spaces was on a street with a synagogue and he wrote down some themes he had heard while passing by. It was LVB's interpretation of some of these themes that make up the first movement of this quartet.

[prestonreyes]

One of the best piece of music ever written, superbly performed. Thank you