Beethoven - Große Fuge, Op. 133 - Performed by the Artemis Quartet

Violins - Natalia Prishepenko and Heime Müller
Viola - Volker Jacobsen
Cello - Eckart Runge

Recorded live at the Theatre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris, France on April 8th 2001.

[ralphfehrer]

A modern masterpiece - powerful, deep and disturbing . Beethoven skipped a whole century, when he composed it.

[lindachao]

This is the most utterly amazing interpretation: the calm is so utterly calm and then the curl of Prishepenko's lip as she launches into the "violent" have listened to this for many years, but burst into tears when I saw and heard that moment, because it so completely represents the schizophrenia that is the Grosse Fugue for me, the struggle for calm, disturbed by violent outbursts, which also, to me, represents the struggle of life itself. Every member of this quartet seems completely invested in the music, they seem to embody the music--no detached "perfect" playing here--every moment is infused with emotion, and what feels to me like the emotion that Beethoven must have intended. Just an amazing performance.

[TheCtenorio]

This is musical madness, even the quiet bits seem like a passive-agressive slow-burn provocation before yelling and waving arms manically around the listener. "Does my suffering seem amusing to you hahahhaha?" I absolutely love this shait-hit-the-fan masterpiece!

[leegaylor]

Beethoven would have been proud of these people.

[peterander]

Auf jeden Fall eins von Beethovens großartigsten Werken. Und hier ausgezeichnet interpretiert. Respekt vor diesem Quartett.

[robertseitz]

I love this band! What a great performance. And thank God the camera people know the score well enough to spotlight the player who dominates the dramatic moments.

[stephenhunt]

For me this piece is one of the finest achievements of the human brain...and given a fine performance. Thank you to hollowchatter.

[robertovejar]

Aunque no viera a los musicos tocar, igual me daria cuenta de lo dificil de ejecutar esta partitura. Una obra maestra!!!

[basspoem]

Wow - finest performance here, ferocious and full of longing.

[bartholomauszeitblom]

Danke, Beethoven. das ist ja fast hochmodern. - wenn man sich vorstellt, was er noch alles hätte schreiben können. aber es war allemal genug, was uns hinterlassen wurde.

[soysantiagoraul]

I can feel the whole universe energy diggin deep into my cheast.

[smillahd]

Dat is de muziek van de toekomst, van de 23ste eeuw. Niemand kan Beethoven overtreffen, alleen God als hij bestaat. En wat een fantastische uitvoering, bravo!

[felipemolina]

Its si beautiful beethoven can show us the beauty of disonance

[potsdam]

The greatest piece of music ever, expression and beauty at its most

[stevegebhart]

My first exposure to the Grosse Fugue was in 1959 at the International Congress of Strings where we performed it with Roy Harris conducting. Then, as today I am completely blown away by this masterpiece which is rivaled by very few compositions and which I have performed several times many years ago! This piece validifies the goodness of having existed for 81 years.

[machida]

It's a difficult music. Beethoven's masterpiece and perhaps the best in Western classical music history.

[jamesking]

WOW! I was just using this to judge my new headphones. But this was just such a great rendition of my all time favorite ditty .

[nicholaswilkins]

A simply wonderful interpretation of a master work. Bravo!

[chessematics]

The cello is adding some real character to the music. Almost like a challenge to the leadership of the first violin. Beautiful interpretation.

[AndyW]

Beethoven set a challenge to muaicians with this piece. I''ve watched a lot of performances of it and this is by far the best. Genius.