Beethoven's late quartets, particularly Op. 130, were initially perceived as incomprehensible by some contemporaries, who felt he had 'departed from his initial path'.
Interpretation
The Quartetto di Cremona's musical style combines 'boisterous enthusiasm' with a 'distinct sense for musical architecture', fusing structure and expression.
Recording & Production
This recording was made at the 'Fondazione Spinola Banna per l'Arte' in Poirino, Italy, an institution promoting contemporary art and music.
Performer Biography
The Quartetto di Cremona, the performers on this album, trained with both Piero Farulli of the Quartetto Italiano and Hatto Beyerle of the Alban Berg Quartet, blending Italian and German-Austrian influences.
Instruments
The Quartetto di Cremona performs on historical instruments, including a 1776 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin and a 1712 Dom Nicola Amati violoncello.
Historical Context
The tradition of performing Beethoven's complete string quartets cyclically began in 1845 with the 'Beethoven Quartet Society' in London.
