Beethoven: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 3 Dover Quartet

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127:
• 1 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: I. Maestoso - Allegro 06:45
• 2 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: II. Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile 14:09
• 3 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: III. Scherzando vivace 08:24
• 4 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: IV. Finale. Allegro 06:51
• String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130:
• 5 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: I. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro 09:31
• 6 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: II. Presto 02:05
• 7 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: III. Andante con moto ma non troppo 07:01
• 8 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: IV. Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai 03:31
• 9 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: V. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo 06:08
• 10 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: VI. Finale. Allegro 09:59
• Große Fuge in B-Flat Major, Op. 133:
• 11 Beethoven: Große Fuge in B-Flat Major, Op. 133 15:17
• String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131:
• 12 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: I. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo 06:20
• 13 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: II. Allegro molto vivace 02:51
• 14 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: III. Allegro moderato 00:47
• 15 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: IV. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile 13:42
• 16 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: V. Presto 05:14
• 17 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: VI. Adagio quasi un poco andante 01:56
• 18 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: VII. Allegro 06:34
• String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132:
• 19 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132: I. Assai sostenuto - Allegro 09:22
• 20 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132: II. Allegro ma non tanto 07:25
• 21 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132: III. Molto adagio 17:16
• 22 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132: IV. Alla marcia, assai vivace 02:22
• 23 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132: V. Allegro appassionato 06:32
• String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135:
• 24 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: I. Allegretto 06:34
• 25 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: II. Vivace 02:56
• 26 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: III. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo 06:45
• 27 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: IV. Der schwer gefasste Entschluss. Grave, ma non troppo tratto - Allegro 06:44
• Total Runtime 03:13:01

Info for Beethoven: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 3

The celebrated Dover Quartet, the young, Grammy-nominated ensemble brimming with prestigious awards and residencies, concludes its critically acclaimed, three-volume Beethoven cycle with the composer’s five monumental, revolutionary Late Quartets and imposing Grosse Fuge.

The triple-album release comprises Beethoven’s very last compositions — remarkable and often daunting works that upended the concept of the string quartet. Many critics and scholars consider them the ultimate expression of Beethoven’s artistry. At the same time, lyrical, songlike “vocal” writing pervades the Late Quartets, delighting the same audiences who flocked to Rossini’s operas.

The Dover’s first two Beethoven installments were greeted with ecstatic reviews: “Beethoven would find it hard to believe that his quartets could be played with such perfection of execution, such beauty of tone, such nuance of expression, and such keen understanding of his music’s meaning and intent.” (Fanfare) “Their Beethoven is, simply, perfection.” (Classical CD Review)

This is the Dover Quartet’s fifth Cedille Records album, following Volumes 1 and 2 of their Beethoven cycle; Voices of Defiance, a recording of 20th-century works; and Tribute, an all-Mozart album that marked the ensemble’s recording debut. Dover’s The Schumann Quartets (Azica Records) received a 2021 Grammy Award nomination.

Declared “one of the best” of today’s “truly wonderful younger quartets” (BBC Music Magazine), the Dover Quartet has followed a “practically meteoric” career trajectory (Strings) to become one of the most in-demand chamber ensembles in the world. The group’s awards include a sweep of all prizes at the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition, grand and first prizes at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, and prizes at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition. Its honors include the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award, and Lincoln Center’s Hunt Family Award.

“These are the most profoundly penetrating performances of Beethoven’s middle string quartets…” (Fanfare Magazine)

“That these 4 musicians can so successfully and consistently play as one is absolutely remarkable. Their music-making is simply breathtaking . . . Their Beethoven is, simply, perfection. As is the recorded sound.” (Only Strings)

“If there is a general tendency in op.18 for quartets to fall in one of three main camps: those who focus on technical polish, those who revel in the music’s internal structural logic and ingenuity, and those who go behind the notes to uncover hidden expressive continuities – the Dover players manage to unite all three to a remarkable degree.” (The Strad)

Dover Quartet

The Dover Quartet
catapulted to international stardom following a stunning sweep of the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition, becoming one of the most in-demand ensembles in the world. The New Yorker recently dubbed them “the young American string quartet of the moment,” and The Strad raved that the Quartet is “already pulling away from their peers with their exceptional interpretive maturity, tonal refinement and taut ensemble.” In 2013-14, the Quartet was the first ever Quartet-in-Residence for the venerated Curtis Institute of Music, and is now faculty Quartet-in-Residence at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music.

In addition to winning the Grand Prize and all three Special Prizes at the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition, the Dover Quartet has continued to receive accolades: in 2015 it was announced that the group had been awarded the highly prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award, and shortly thereafter, Lincoln Center awarded the quartet the annual Hunt Family Award, as part of the organization's Emerging Artist Awards. In its early years, the quartet also won grand prize at the Fischoff Competition, and special prizes at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition.

During the 2015-16 season, the Dover Quartet will perform more than 120 concerts throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. Highlights include the group's debut at Carnegie Hall, and several residencies including those at Dumbarton Oaks, Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, and People's Symphony Concerts in New York. 2016 also includes the quartet's first tour of Israel, and the recording of three albums, to be released beginning next fall. The group regularly appears with acclaimed collaborators, and this season these will include such artists as Anthony McGill, David Shifrin, Anne-Marie McDermott, Avi Avital, and Edgar Meyer. The collaborations with Avi and Edgar will include extensive tours together next season.

The Dover Quartet participates regularly in some of the continent's most reputable summer festivals, including Chamber Music Northwest, Artosphere, Bravo Vail, and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and are active proponents of new music: this season included a premier of Pulitzer-Prize winning Caroline Shaw's new quartet at Dumbarton Oaks, and next season will include the premieres of multiple commissions, including works from Richard Danielpour and Michael Djupstrom.

The Dover Quartet was formed in 2008 at the Curtis Institute of Music, and continued their studies as Graduate Quartet-in-Residence at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music from 2011-13. Because of the exceptional faculty at both of these institutions, the group draws from the musical lineage of the Cleveland, Vermeer, Concord, and Guarneri Quartets. The Quartet has been mentored extensively by Shmuel Ashkenasi, James Dunham, Norman Fischer, Kenneth Goldsmith, Joseph Silverstein, Arnold Steinhardt, Michael Tree, and Peter Wiley, and is dedicated to sharing their music with underserved communities and is an active member of Music for Food, an initiative to help musicians fight hunger in their home communities.

Booklet for Beethoven: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 3