Beethoven: Great Fugue in B♭ major, op.133

Beethoven: Great Fugue op.133 — comparing recordings with the following ensembles: Alban Berg Quartett (1983), Amadeus Quartet (1962), Artemis Quartet (2011), Busch Chamber Players (1941), Emerson String Quartet (1997), Endellion String Quartet (2006), Guarneri String Quartet (1969), Hagen Quartett (2001), LaSalle Quartet (1972), Leipziger Streichquartett (2006), Melos Quartett (1984), Otto Klemperer/Philharmonia Orchestra (1956), Quartetto Italiano (1969), Quatuor Mosaïques (2016), Takács Quartet (2004)

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas opp.13 & 27/2 (Diary 2012-12-31)

Beethoven, Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, op.13, “Pathétique” — Backhaus (1958), Barenboim (1984), Badura-Skoda (1969), Schnabel (1935), Fischer (1952), Gulda (1967), Immerseel (1983), fortepiano), Gilels (1980), Brautigam (2003, fortepiano); Piano Sonata No.14 in C♯ minor, op.27/2 — Badura-Skoda (1969), Barenboim (1984), Backhaus (1958), Gulda (1967), Schnabel (1935), Pletnev (1988), Gilels (1980), Immerseel (1983), fortepiano), Brautigam (2003, fortepiano)

Beethoven: String Quartet in C♯ minor, op.131

Beethoven: String Quartet op.131 — comparing recordings with the following ensembles: Alban Berg Quartett (1984), Amadeus Quartet (1963), Artemis Quartet (2002), Brooklyn Rider (2011), Busch Quartet (1936), Emerson String Quartet (1997), Endellion String Quartet (2005), Guarneri String Quartet (1969), Hagen Quartett (1999), LaSalle Quartet (1977), Leipziger Streichquartett (1994), Melos Quartett (1985), Quartetto Italiano (1969), Takács Quartet (2004)

Beethoven: String Quartet in F minor op.95, “Serioso”

Beethoven: String Quartet op.95 — comparing recordings with the following ensembles: Amadeus Quartet (1960), Artemis Quartet (2005), Busch Quartet (1932), Chiaroscuro Quartet (2012), Emerson String Quartet (1997), Endellion String Quartet (2008), Guarneri String Quartet (1968), Melos Quartett (1984), Quartetto Italiano (1971), Takács Quartet (2004)

Forqueray: The Attraction of the Deep

Totally addicted!! In most of baroque Europe, the number of chamber music works for deep string instruments is rather small. Also, viols were very popular in France and in England (to some degree), but rarely used in Italy in baroque times, but at the French Court there was an entire school of famous viola da gamba players…

Tallis: Spem in alium

Comparing recordings with the following artists: David Hill/Winchester Cathedral Choir, Alistair Dixon/Chapelle du Roi, Andrew Parrott/Taverner Consort & Choir, Paul van Nevel/Huelgas Ensemble, Robert Hollingworth/I Fagiolini