Guarneri Quartet - String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: V. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo download song

I have seen the Guarneri Quartet just once on May 5, 1981 at Detroit's Orchestra Hall on a balmy spring evening. They were the original quartet, and they played as if they were one. It was a thrilling program. I have not forgotten it.

Michael tree was an excellent tennis player, and he often beat pros at clubs near venues where the quartet was performing

Back in the mid-1960s they had a series every year at Harper College (now SUNY Binghamton). Several of us from Ithaca would squeeze into my VW bug and drive down to each concert without fail. One year they presented a Beethoven/Bartok cycle with one central concert all Beethoven. The cycle concluded with the Große Fuga replacement in op. 130, the last thing Beethoven ever composed. Such playing! And such nice people A few years ago I mentioned that double cycle to Michael Tree. His comment, "Did we really do that? Wow, were we crazy!!" I could go on and on about them. Such great musicians and great gentlemen.

2:15- Beethoven in the legend!

Arnold Steinhardt ( violionist) is teaching a free online course on string quartets on Coursera.

At 4:24, possibly the most amazing moment in music ever.  Right at the golden ratio inside an exceptional movement written by possibly the best composer ever.  Beethoven marks this jewel of a passage Bekklempt, meaning anguished and oppressed.

As noted below, the "beklemmpt" passage is one of the most moving inspirations in all his amazing quartets.

ahhh .... they way they play ... so sublime :D

Thank you, Michael Tree, for this. You will be missed.

The Guarneri Quartet played for 37 years without changing personnel (until 2001, when the cellist changed.) Their sound was so well-blended.