2/19 Great Composers: Beethoven / String Quartet 131 (Cavani)

I've seen many documentaries on Beethoven and I always find something new...Beethoven can be approached from so many different ways, even in the context of a "straightforward" documentary about his life.  Read on for more...

"For many people, musicians and laymen alike, Beethoven is the most admired composer in the history of Western classical music -- not only because of the intellectual rigour of his music, but also its expressive power. Beethoven's struggle to resist being defeated by his deafness has a parallel in his music. This programme explores all aspects of Beethoven's life, the music and the man, his views on life, politics and the French Revolution. Contributors include conductors Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Michael Tilson Thomas, pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy, violinist Peter Cropper from The Lindsays, musicologist Charles Rosen, sociologist Tia de Nora, director Sir Peter Hall, Beethoven expert John Suchet and Beethoven scholars Barry Cooper, Bill Meredith, Basil Deane and William Kinderman."

And secondly, a fine concert by the Cavani Quartet performing Opus 131.  Despite some "liberties taken" in the 5th movement Presto, the best live version I've found on YT...
Sunday, September 27, 2009, Mixon Hall
CAVANI String Quartet:
ANNIE FULLARD, violin / MARI SATO, violin
KIRSTEN DOCTER, viola / MERRY PECKHAM, cello
String Quartet No. 14 in C# minor, Op. 131  (42 min)
Here's movements I-III:


Click below to go to the Linklist for the whole quartet