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Background

• Composed between 1798 and 1826, a total of 16 String Quartets; considered the pinnacle of chamber music.
• Early Quartets (1798–1800): Op. 18, Nos. 1–6. Dedicated to Prince Lobkowitz.
• Middle Quartets (1806–1814): Op. 59, Nos 1–3; Op. 74, Op. 95. The Razumovsky Quartets were commissioned by Count Razumovsky.
• Late Quartets (1824–1826): Opp. 127, 130–132, 135, and the Grosse Fuge Op. 133.

Recordings

• The Complete String Quartets
  Alban Berg Quartett
  Warner Classics
  Gramophone Awards (1985): Winner Chamber
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2011): First Choice

• The Early / Middle / Late Quartets
  Calidore String Quartet
  Signum Classics
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2024): Winner Chamber.
  Gramophone Magazine (2024): Recording of the Month.
  Gramophone Magazine (2025): Editor's Choice

• Between Two Worlds: Lassus, Beethoven, Ades & Dowland.
  String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132.
  Castalian String Quartet.
  Delphian.
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2022): Finalist.
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2023): Nominated Newcomer.

• String Quartets (Op. 18 Nos 1–3, 4–6 · Opp. 74 & 130 · Op. 59 Nos 1 & 2)
  Chiaroscuro Quartet
  BIS
  Radio 3 Record Review (2021): Records of the Year.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2022): Recommended
  International Classical Music Magazine (2023): Nominated Chamber Music.
  International Classical Music Awards (2024): Nominated Chamber Music

• Complete String Quartets Vols. 1–3
  Cuarteto Casals
  Harmonia Mundi

• PRISM I–V (String Quartets Nos. 12–16)
  Danish String Quartet
  ECM New Series
  Grammy Awards (2019): Nominee Chamber Music?Small Ensemble Performance (PRISM I)
  BBC Magazine (2019): Chamber Choice (PRISM II)
  International Classical Music Awards (2019): Nominee Chamber Music (PRISM II)
  Limelight Magazine Recordings of the Year (2019): Nominated Chamber (PRISM II)
  The New York Times (2019): Recordings of the Year (PRISM II)
  Gramophone Awards (2023): Finalist Chamber (PRISM IV)
  Opus Klassik Awards (2024): Nominated Ensemble of the Year (PRISM V)
  Opus Klassik Awards (2024): Nominated Chamber Music (PRISM V)
  Opus Klassik (2024): Recording of the Year (PRISM V)

• The Late String Quartets.
  Quatuor Diotima.
  Pentatone.

• String Quartets Volumes 1 & 2
  Doric String Quartet.
  Chandos.
  
  
• Complete String Quartets Vols. 1 & 2
  Dover Quartet
  Cedille
  Grammy Awards (2023): Nominee Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

• Around the World, The Complete String Quartets
  Quatuor Ebène
  ERATO
  Diapason d’Or (2019): Nouveaute.
  Gramophone Magazine (2019): Critics’ Choice.
  Opus Klassik (2021): Winner Chamber Music

• The String Quartets
  Emerson String Quartet
  Deutsche Grammophon
  Grammy Awards (1997): Best Chamber Music Recording

• Complete String Quartets.
  Quartetto Italiano.
  DECCA.

• The Late Quartets.
  Quatuor Mosaiques.
  Naive.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2017).
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2017): Finalist.

• Complete String Quartets
  Takacs Quartet
  DECCA
  Grammy Awards (2002): Best Chamber Music Recording
  Gramophone Magazine (2017): Editor's Choice

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.