Belcea Quartet: Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets - Plus Documentary

Heads up !According to Amazon customer service this morning, the "Region B/2" classification for the Bluray release of this Beethoven String Quartets (Belcea Quartet) is apparently correct ... if so, I assume it will not play on N. American Bluray players. "Region A/1" is for N. America (as well as other parts of the world too).I wrote "apparently" because the product details on the EuroArts website indicate that picture format is NTSC, which in my understanding is for N. America (as opposed to the PAL format).Anyway, I e-mailed EuroArts to get their take on the matter, and will update this review with their response ... my call to Amazon lasted nearly 10 minutes, so it isn't as if the service rep didn't look into the matter reasonably thoroughly.It appears to be a wonderful release, as usual, from the folks at EuroArts ... looking forward to buying it ASAP :-)12/4/14 UPDATE : EuroAtrs e-mailed me today, assuring me that the product details should read "Region Code 'All' " ... furthermore, they are working on having the Amazon listing corrected :-)12/13/14 UPDATE : well, that was quick :-)Thanks to Classical Music Store, this wonderful collection of Beethoven chamber music is playing in my home theater 5 days after ordering ... far be it from me to comment on the particular performance - it's been 35 years since I owned most of these quartets (vinyl LPs :-) ... Let's leave that up to persons more familiar with these works.That being said, there's a reason they are considered masterpieces / cornerstones of the classical repertoire.I do feel qualified, however, to comment on the audio/visual quality of the release ... so here goes ...The Bluray image is first rate, and the video direction is fine ... more importantly, for myself, the audio is first rate. The DTS Master Audio format is crystal clear, a delight for my ears, mind, and soul.The most appealing aspect of Bluray discs, IMO, is the HD audio formats ... as an owner of over 100 classical and opera titles, this EuroArts release is state of the art.I'm looking forward to exploring and becoming familiar with these quartets over the next several weeks, and for years and years to come.And yes, it's coded for "All Regions", as the product details now state.Writing this update with the Opus 18 #2 quartet playing in the background, it sounds as if there is a quartet playing here in my home ... viewing it on my TV and hearing it through my ($7,000) sound system, it's almost as if I'm there at the performance ... highly recommended.

The Belcea Quartet has the marketing advantage of putting out the first set of the complete Beethoven String Quartets on video. That deserves a tip of the hat.That having been said, as a video performance I'm not overly impressed. Cameras linger on interpersonal exchanges which I don't care about rather than fingerings, bowings, etc., as well as the 1st violin whose name brands the group.Musically? Others here are saying it's only middling in comparison to other performances they have on CD.So if you really want this for a living room experience, go for it. But I would wait, some other quartet will do better very soon.

This Belcea Quartet is one of the best. And to have a dvd with them performing ALL Beethoven's string quartets is a treat, to say the least. Each one of them is an excellent player, and the four of them play together beautifully as an ensemble - one of the most important aspects that makes a quartet truly great. I have my favorites, but I also realized a while back that with Beethoven's string quartets, it doesn't matter. The early, middle and late quartets are ALL on the same level of excellence - when he composed them is irrelevant. The inclusion of the Grosse Fuge (and a fine rendition) is yet another pleasure to behold. I'd call this highly recommended, and then some!

I am writing mainly to offer a different response to H Bolet's middling review below. Video is visual. It has to influence the reviewer of a product like this one. In my opinion the visuals are wonderful. It is filmed beautifully and the editing is also musically sound. It doesn't hurt that Corina Belcea herself is lovely to watch and brilliant musically at the same time nor that the whole quartet is clearly engaged at every level. Most importantly for me, it has to be said over and over that these overwhelming masterworks can take all sort of approaches, from the slightly dry eyed, though clear cut and incredibly faithful, versions like the Alban Berg to something more romantic and heart on sleeve like these versions. What is important to me is the quality of the playing and the dedication and musicality. These are wonderful, wonderful performances. For a video Beethoven Quartets, I would highly recommend these.

Superbly played, excellent sound and production values, and a beautiful first violinist, a pleasure to watch in the execution of great music.

Beautifully performed and filmed with a knowledge of the music and the conversational nature of the string quartet.