Beethoven's official string quintet, the C major published as Opus 29, is a relatively unknown work, but his unofficial string quintet, the E flat major published as Opus 4, is nearly completely unrecorded. A thorough reworking by the composer of his Octet for winds later published as Opus 103, the E flat major String Quintet is young Beethoven at his stylish best: sweetly lyrical, dryly witty, energetically rhythmic, and perfectly proportioned. Thankfully, all these qualities are captured in this 2007 recording by England ...
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Beethoven's official string quintet, the C major published as Opus 29, is a relatively unknown work, but his unofficial string quintet, the E flat major published as Opus 4, is nearly completely unrecorded. A thorough reworking by the composer of his Octet for winds later published as Opus 103, the E flat major String Quintet is young Beethoven at his stylish best: sweetly lyrical, dryly witty, energetically rhythmic, and perfectly proportioned. Thankfully, all these qualities are captured in this 2007 recording by England's Nash Ensemble, which, appropriately enough, is coupled with the C major Quintet. In both cases, the works are given wholly admirable performances. The Nash's tone is incisive but with plenty of body, its rhythms are muscular but not muscle-bound, and its ensemble is tight but with enough give to let every line sound. Though there have been other fine recordings of the C major Quintet -- one thinks first of the Kuijken family's splendid recent account coupled with the String...
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