The Late String Quartets (Die Späten Streichquartette) cover

The Late String Quartets (Die Späten Streichquartette)

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1984

190 min · 27 tracks · classical music

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Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
92 /100
Summit
Higher than 100% of albums we've rated

The writing is extraordinarily inventive across five quartets, but the nonchronological ordering gives this collection little overarching arc; the specific performance merits cann…

What we noticed

  • The set moves from Op. 127 straight to Op. 135, then back to Op. 130 before continuing with Opp. 131 and 132; it is not arranged chronologically.
  • Op. 130 places the Große Fuge between the Cavatina and Finale, making the final movement follow one of the set's most demanding stretches.
  • Op. 131 unfolds in seven movements without a break in the catalogue's grouping, moving from a fugue-like opening through a central variation movement to a fast finale.
Composition 25% of the score
10/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
9/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
9/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Quartet no. 12 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in E-flat major, op. 127: I. Maestoso – Allegro 6:32
  • 2 Quartet no. 12 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in E-flat major, op. 127: II. Adagio ma non troppo, molto cantabile 16:28
  • 3 Quartet no. 12 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in E-flat major, op. 127: III. Scherzando vivace 6:50
  • 4 Quartet no. 12 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in E-flat major, op. 127: IV. Finale 6:42
  • 5 Quartet no. 16 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in F major, op. 135: I. Allegretto 6:13
  • 6 Quartet no. 16 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in F major, op. 135: II. Vivace 3:20
  • 7 Quartet no. 16 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in F major, op. 135: III. Lento assai e cantate tranquillo 7:41
  • 8 Quartet no. 16 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in F major, op. 135: IV. Grave, ma non troppo tratto – Allegro 6:49

Disc 2

  • 1 Quartet no. 13 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in B-flat major, op. 130: I. Adagio ma non troppo – Allegro 9:45
  • 2 Quartet no. 13 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in B-flat major, op. 130: II. Presto 1:53
  • 3 Quartet no. 13 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in B-flat major, op. 130: III. Andante con moto, ma non troppo 6:49
  • 4 Quartet no. 13 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in B-flat major, op. 130: IV. Alla danza tedesca (Allegro assai) 2:54
  • 5 Quartet no. 13 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in B-flat major, op. 130: V. Cavatina (Adagio molto espressivo) 7:02
  • 6 Quartet no. 13 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in B-flat major, op. 130: Große Fuge in B-flat major, op. 133 15:31
  • 7 Quartet no. 13 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in B-flat major, op. 130: VII. Finale (Allegro) 7:47

Disc 3

  • 1 Quartet no. 14 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in C-sharp minor, op. 131: I. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo 6:50
  • 2 Quartet no. 14 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in C-sharp minor, op. 131: II. Allegro molto vivace 3:08
  • 3 Quartet no. 14 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in C-sharp minor, op. 131: III. Allegro moderato 0:50
  • 4 Quartet no. 14 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in C-sharp minor, op. 131: IV. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile 13:26
  • 5 Quartet no. 14 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in C-sharp minor, op. 131: V. Presto 5:34
  • 6 Quartet no. 14 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in C-sharp minor, op. 131: VI. Adagio quasi un poco andante 1:32
  • 7 Quartet no. 14 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in C-sharp minor, op. 131: VII. Allegro 6:26

Disc 4

  • 1 Quartet no. 15 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in A minor, op. 132: I. Assai sostenuto – Allegro 9:12
  • 2 Quartet no. 15 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in A minor, op. 132: II. Allegro ma non tanto 8:21
  • 3 Quartet no. 15 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in A minor, op. 132: III. Molto adagio (A restored one’ holy song of thanksgiving to God, in lydian mode) 15:00
  • 4 Quartet no. 15 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in A minor, op. 132: IV. Alla marcia, Assai vivace 2:02
  • 5 Quartet no. 15 for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in A minor, op. 132: V. Allegro appassionato 6:19

What to play next

Mozart: Quintet in E-Flat Major KV 452 / Beethoven: Quintet in E-Flat Major Op.16
Listen next

Mozart: Quintet in E-Flat Major KV 452 / Beethoven: Quintet in E-Flat Major Op.16

1984
Hungarian Rhapsody no. 5 / Peer Gynt Suite no. 1 / Les Préludes / Beethoven's 5th
Go back to

Hungarian Rhapsody no. 5 / Peer Gynt Suite no. 1 / Les Préludes / Beethoven's 5th

1984
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Reference: MusicBrainz