Beethoven : String Quartets

- Beethoven's String Quartets are probably the most powerful expression of his genius, and he started writing them well before his First Symphony until after the Ninth - this CD presents three of his best works in the genre, each one from another period of his life.

- Op. 18 No. 6 is the most famous of Beethoven's first important series of Quartets; Op. 59 No. 3, the third of the so-called 'Rasoumovsky Quartets' is a real test piece for any string quartet, and the Große Fuge is not only one of Beethoven's most ambitious undertakings, but also a tremendous work that few string quartets even dare to tackle, let alone give such a penetrative performance of as the Raphael Quartet does here!

In the summer of 1981, four string players from various orchestras of the Netherlands Broadcasting Corporation banded together to form a string quartet which they named after the great ltalian sculptor, painter and architect Rafaello. In 1983, the Quartet became an official ensemble of the Dutch radio network and made its official concert debut in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. The repertoire of the Raphael Quartet spans a range of styles and periods from Haydn to Shostakovich and many invitations for international concerts have led to a growing critical reputation. For Globe the Raphael Quartet has already made a series of successful recordings which enhanced its international reputation considerably and new recordings have been scheduled for the near future.