If beauty is truth and truth beauty, then the Quartetto Italiano's late-'60s, early-'70s cycle of the complete Beethoven string quartets is possibly the most truthful cycle ever recorded because it is certainly the most beautiful cycle ever recorded. No quartet has ever played with such consummate beauty of tone, such ideal intonation, and such superb ensemble as the Quartetto Italiano. In the most strenuous passages, in the most awkward, in the most excruciating passages, the Italiano is always and everywhere ...
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If beauty is truth and truth beauty, then the Quartetto Italiano's late-'60s, early-'70s cycle of the complete Beethoven string quartets is possibly the most truthful cycle ever recorded because it is certainly the most beautiful cycle ever recorded. No quartet has ever played with such consummate beauty of tone, such ideal intonation, and such superb ensemble as the Quartetto Italiano. In the most strenuous passages, in the most awkward, in the most excruciating passages, the Italiano is always and everywhere transcendentally beautiful. The "early" quartets bring out all the high-Classical poise and elegance of the works, expressing the strong emotions of the young Beethoven in performances of graceful beauty. The "middle" quartets are powerfully muscular and as powerfully intellectual, balancing the heart and mind of the mature Beethoven in performances of exquisite beauty. The "late" quartets are deeply emotional and profoundly spiritual, transcending the duality of heart and mind in the sublime...
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Add this copy of Complete String Quartets to cart. $50.70, like new condition, Sold by Silicon Valley Fine Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Sunnyvale, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Philips Classics Productions.
Add this copy of Beethoven: Complete String Quartets to cart. $70.56, new condition, Sold by Revaluation Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Exeter, DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1997 by DECCA, BOX IRRESISTIBILI, BOX CLASSICA, MUSICA DA CAMERA: 028945406220.