Beethoven Quatuors à cordes | String Quartets Volume 2 | op.59 nos.1-3 & op.74 & op.95 QUATUOR ALCAN Laura Andriani, violin I ~ Nathalie Camus, violin II Luc Beauchemin, viola ~ David Ellis, cello ACD2 2492 3 CDs “For a string quartet Beethoven is the hallmark, the keystone.   We would never have hoped to carry out such a project 25 years ago and now, here we are, 25 years later.” - David Ellis, cellist, Alcan String Quartet • The Alcan String Quartet celebrates its 25th anniversary with a landmark three-volume recording of the complete cycle of Beethoven's 16 string quartets.   Volume 1, containing the 6 quartets from Beethoven's early period, was released last November.   Volume 2 was on the shelves on February 10, 2015 and volume 3 will be available in April. • More than five years passed between Beethoven's Opus 18 string quartets and those that became known as the middle quartets.   He completed the three quartets of Opus 59 between May and July 1806.   In 1809 he began work on a new string quartet, Opus 74, which he dedicated to Prince Lobkowitz.   Opus 95, dedicated to Beethoven's old friend Nikolaus Zmeskall von Domanovecz, seems to have had laborious gestation period.   In 1810, the composer began his eleventh quartet, while also working on the incidental music for Goethe's Egmont.   He finished the quartet the following year and subsequently revised it several times. • The Alcan Quartet is active in Canada and internationally.   The quartet's originality, contagious enthusiasm, unique sonority, and remarkable cohesion have all contributed to its success.   Both on stage and in the recording studio, the Alcan Quartet possesses the qualities that characterize the best ensembles of its kind: a recognizable personality, a homogeneous sound, and an elegant style. CD 1. Quatuor n° 7, en fa majeur «Razoumovski», op.59 n° l     [ 38:35 ] Quartet No.7 in F major “Razumovsky”, Op.59 No.l 1.   I. Allegro     [ 10:01 ] 2.  II. Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando     [ 8:51 ] 3. III. Adagio molto e mesto     [ 11:37 ] 4. IV. Allegro     [ 8:06 ] CD 2. Quatuor n° 8, en mi mineur «Razoumovski», op.59 n° 2     [ 40:29 ] Quartet No.8 in E minor “Razumovsky”, Op.59 No.2 1.   I. Allegro     [ 14:44 ] 2.  II. Molto adagio     [ 12:14 ] 3. III. Allegretto     [ 7:33 ] 4. IV. Finale: Presto     [ 5:58 ] Quatuor n° 9, en ut majeur «Razoumovski», op.59 n° 3     [ 31:46 ] Quartet No.9 in C major “Razumovsky”, Op.59 No.3 5.   I. Introduzione, Andante con moto - Allegro vivace     [ 10:42 ] 6.  II. Andante con moto quasi allegretto     [ 9:25 ] 7. III. Menuetto, Grazioso     [ 5:24 ] 8. IV. Allegretto molto     [ 6:15 ] CD 3. Quatuor n° 10, en mi bémol majeur «Les harpes», op.74     [ 30:20 ] Quartet No.10 in E fiat major “Harp”, Op.74 1.   I. Poco adagio - Allegro     [ 9:16 ] 2.  II. Adagio ma non troppo     [ 9:22 ] 3. III. Presto - Più presto quasi prestissimo     [ 5:00 ] 4. IV. Allegretto con variazioni     [ 6:42 ] Quatuor n° 11, en fa mineur «Serioso», op.95     [ 21:26 ] Quartet No.1l in F minor “Quartetto serioso”, Op.95 5.   I. Allegro con brio     [ 4:28 ] 6.  II. Allegretto ma non troppo     [ 7:50 ] 7. III. Allegro assai vivace ma serioso     [ 4:32 ] 8. IV. Larghetto espressivo - Allegretto agitatfi     [ 4:36 ] ATMA Classique is distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading PO Box 44, Briar Hill, Vic, 3088, Australia Telephone +61 (0)3 9432 4149 ~ Facsimile +61 (0)3 9444 6879