Beethoven: The Late String Quartets Arranged For String Orchestra / Tonnensen, Camerata Nordica

$39.99
Label
BIS
Release Date
February 25, 2014
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      BEETHOVEN, LUDWIG VAN
    • PERFORMER
      Nordica, Tonnesen
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      February 25, 2014
    • UPC
      7318590010969
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      BIS-1096
    • LABEL
      BIS
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      3
    • GENRE
      Orchestral & Symphonic
    Works ⌄

    1. I. Maestoso - Allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    2. II. Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    3. III. Scherzando vivace

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    4. IV. Finale: Allegro - Allegro comodo

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    5. I. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    6. II. Allegro molto vivace

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    7. III. Allegro moderato - Adagio

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    8. IV. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile - Più mosso - Andante moderato e lusinghiero - Adagio - Allegretto - Adagio, ma non troppo e semplice - Allegretto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    9. V. Presto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    10. VI. Adagio quasi un poco andante

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    11. VII. Allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    12. I. Adagio, ma non troppo - Allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    13. II. Presto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    14. III. Andante con moto, ma non troppo - Poco scherzoso

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    15. IV. Alla danza tedesca - Allegro assai

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    16. V. Cavatina: Adagio molto espressivo

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    17. VI. Grosse Fuge

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    18. I. Assai sostenuto - Allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    19. II. Allegro ma non tanto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    20. III. Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenden an die Gottheit, in der lydischen Tonart

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    21. IV. Alla marcia, assai vivace - Più allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    22. V. Allegro appassionato - Presto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    23. I. Allegretto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    24. II. Vivace

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    25. III. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen

    26. IV. Der schwer gefasste Entschluss

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Camerata Nordica

      Conductor: Terje Tønnesen


Like few other works, Beethoven's late string quartets have gained an almost undisputed standing as the very apex of their genre. Not many of Beethoven's contemporaries would have accorded them this: the composer Louis Spohr called them 'indecipherable, uncorrected horrors' and the quartets were widely regarded as the monstrous products of a madness which at best could be excused by the composer's deafness. One of the first to recognize them for the masterpieces that they are was Franz Schubert, who after having heard a performance of Quartet No.14 in C sharp minor is reported to have said 'After this, what is left for us to write?' Composers after Schubert have been as awestruck by this music, with Stravinsky famously describing the Große Fuge as 'an absolutely contemporary piece of music that will be contemporary forever.' The feeling that Beethoven in these works was giving form to a universal music which transcends genre conventions have also inspired many to adapt various of the quartets for larger forces, including the conductors Dmitri Mitropoulos and Arturo Toscanini. On the present recordings, originally released by the Altara label in 2006, it is the Norwegian violinist Terje Tønnesen's adaptations we hear, performed by himself and his Swedish string ensemble Camerata Nordica. Besides providing the greater dynamic spectrum that a larger ensemble can bring to the music, Tønnesen's main aim has been to strengthen the contrasts between intimate passages and fuller textures by employing solo players in certain passages, as in a concerto grosso. He and Camerata Nordica has also reinstated the Große Fuge in its proper context: that amazing 15 minute monolith was originally intended as the finale of Op.130, but proved indigestible to contemporary audiences and critics - one of whom described it as 'as incomprehensible as Chinese' - and was replaced by an easy-going rondo following a request from Beethoven's publisher.