Beethoven's Quartets by Alban Berg Quartett

The quartets, like any other composition of the Titan of Bonn, are blessed with numerous recordings. Integrals or individual recordings they are the measure of artistic maturity and competence for all enssembles that thrive for greatness. There are, as always, some names that one usually meets when looking for above average interpretations: Emerson Quartett, Quartetto Italiano, Julliard Quartett, or Amadeus Quartett. All of them are important names and their interpretations have more qualities than weak points. Yet, my favorite is by far Alban Berg Quartett.

Some say that Quartetto Italiano plays a more involved Beethoven chamber music and makes justice to the richness of emotions that lie within this music too (as for anything Ludvig composed). Yet, for me, the chamber music is always about sound as much as it is about interpretation. And while others have masterful interpretations too the sound is a particular strength of Alban Berg. You could say is because of the wonderful instruments they play on, all of them Stradivarius made, but I really think is more than that.

Their set was the first one that gave me full satisfaction in all quartets no matter what their period is. The first quartets show the young Beethoven that still draws his strength from the strong roots of classicism yet Alban manages to express beautifully the birth of what will be the landmark of Beethoven. The manifestation of emotions and thoughts in a musical drama. At this time they are quite shy and well-behaved yet plays develop with characters and wonderful music. In the last quartets, however, you see the Beethoven that composed the 5th symphony. Nature erupts, human struggle is manifest with devastating power, the most profound of human emotions get expressed without a shadow of restraint. Yet again, Alban Berg is on top of the music, and manage to recreate it all but with extreme clarity. A key role plays, as one expects, Günter Pichler, their first violin, that reigns supreme over every score and plays the solo parts with insight, intellectual tension and wonderful tone. The rest are of course as good and manage to lay at your feet the complete experience of this most intimate contact with the inner world of Beethoven.

You might find joy and reward in many other recordings. I personally do when I listen to Amadeus Quartet, another master viennese enssemble. Yet, everytime I need to get in touch with this part of Beethoven's music I keep returning to Alban Berg and I really encourage everybody to give them a chance to prove why they are one of the most prominent groups in chamber music.

PS: they also have a highly acclaimed Mozart set. I've listened to it partially but what I've heard is trully in class of its own.