Never mind about Beethoven in C minor, let's talk about Beethoven in C major!! Or more specifically, the quartet op.59 no.3, "Razumovsky". I used to regard this as possibly the weakest of the op.59 set, but now it's my favourite!
The work is a deliberate homage to Mozart in that it cross-references with his "Dissonance" Quartet (K.465) in many ways, not least in the choice of key. Then there's that eerie, atonal intro to the first mvt, & the Mozartean Minuet. The hypnotic slow mvt is characterised by plucked cello strings, while the finale builds & builds to one of the most thrilling conclusions of any Beethoven work - I just cannot listen to this mvt whilst sitting down!
On video, I have the Alban Berg Quartet playing this work (& many others). It is compelling viewing/listening. All dinner suits & bow ties, yes, but whoever said that classical music is boring to watch should go & see a performance of a Beethoven quartet; they'll go home breathless!
Views, please?
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PDG (Peter)
The work is a deliberate homage to Mozart in that it cross-references with his "Dissonance" Quartet (K.465) in many ways, not least in the choice of key. Then there's that eerie, atonal intro to the first mvt, & the Mozartean Minuet. The hypnotic slow mvt is characterised by plucked cello strings, while the finale builds & builds to one of the most thrilling conclusions of any Beethoven work - I just cannot listen to this mvt whilst sitting down!
On video, I have the Alban Berg Quartet playing this work (& many others). It is compelling viewing/listening. All dinner suits & bow ties, yes, but whoever said that classical music is boring to watch should go & see a performance of a Beethoven quartet; they'll go home breathless!
Views, please?
------------------
PDG (Peter)
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