Guarneri Quartet, Cleveland, October 2008

[dirac33]

The transition from Eb to G minor, so characteristic of late Beethoven, is astonishing. One is immediately transported from a world of nervous energy and grudging optimism to one of facing the inevitable truth of pain and suffering and decline - and that is explicitly pushed away by a giant affirmation in G major that is not convincing - there is nothing that can approach the depth of late Beethoven.

[yomommacello]

It was a really awesome concert btw.

[yomommacello]

I was here!

[dirac33]

@yomommacello I have listened to many performances of this work but none can match the Guarneri. They are often given too much credit for just being silky smooth and in perfect time, but this quartet demands that the players "hit hard" and dig into the strings on the big chords in Eb, G, and C, and in general to play very athletically. This never happens - did with Guarneri and the Julliard although they were too sloppy with time. Greatest quartet ever, the G men.