Beethoven: String Quartets Op 18/1, Op 127

"This is 21st Century Beethoven: contrasts and disjunctions vividly emphasised, supremely faithful to the outrageous demands Beethoven makes, precise in ensemble, accentuation and intonation, the resonances of early music brought to the fore in the strange slow movements of the late quartets, totally convincing new interpretations of what these masterpieces can mean today in vivid and involving recordings. For me the Artemis are the greatest performers of the Beethoven quartets since the Alban Berg Quartet. Featuring what is perhaps the finest account of the late Op. 127 Quartet in E Flat I've ever encountered, this new release from the young Artemis Quartet continues what is for me the most provocative, expressive and beautifully- played new cycle of Beethoven quartet recordings since those made by the Takacs Quartet. The Artemis Quartet has an unusually precise sense of ensemble and intonation so the opening Maestoso of the E flat quartet has its full measure of strangeness (the harmonies spiral away from and towards those opening chords repeatedly through the quartet) and tension with an appealing and revealing variety of colour and attack. This CD will definitely join other releases by the Artemis in my Staff Picks for 2011." (Keith, Marbecks Classical)

"they negotiate the tricky changes of tempo in the first movement of Op. 127 with great fluidity, provide an expressive yet poised view of the slow movement, and invest the Scherzo with suitably rustic verve and rhythmic dynamism" (BBC Music Dec 2010)

"Credit is due to the audio production team providing close and vividly clear sound of the highest quality. These are winning Beethoven accounts by the Artemis played with exhilarating directness and steely power. Their dynamic contrasts are broad without ever interrupting the flow. Beautifully played the slow movements are expressive and perceptively interpreted. The Artemis demonstrates a remarkable rapport with impressive technical prowess and flawless intonation." (MusicWeb Nov 2010)

"...there's an astringent, dramatic quality to the playing, which is most effective in the "String Quartet No 12 in E flat major", making light work of the change in the second movement from lachrymose introversion to something akin to a jaunty dance, and back into bleakness again two minutes later" (The Independent)

"they negotiate the tricky changes of tempo in the first movement of Op. 127 with great fluidity, provide an expressive yet poised view of the slow movement, and invest the Scherzo with suitably rustic verve and rhythmic dynamism" (BBC Music Dec 2010)

"This group finds a balance between projecting musical structure and conveying immediacy," wrote the New York Times in March 2010. "The players cultivate unity of thought and intention but not conformity of sound and style ... the Beethoven performances the Artemis offered were remarkably cogent and organic. The Quartet in E flat (Op. 127), the first of the five late works, is my favourite of the Beethoven quartets, partly because it is so blithely strange. Artemis captured that quality in an engrossing performance. For example, in the middle of the pensive slow movement the music breaks out into something reminiscent of a sentimental German beer-hall tune complete with an oompah dance riff, qualities impishly conveyed here. The seemingly breezy theme of the finale has astonishing twists embedded in its phrases and harmonies, vividly realized by Artemis".