Die Späten Streichquartette * The Late String Quartets * Les Derniers quatuors à cordes

Released by Deutsche Grammophon in 1982, this box set features the Amadeus Quartet performing Ludwig van Beethoven’s late string quartets, a cycle widely considered the pinnacle of the chamber music repertoire. The recording captures the quartet at a mature stage in their long-standing relationship with the label, reflecting the refined, precise aesthetic that defined their interpretation of the Viennese classics throughout the mid-twentieth century.

The late quartets, which include the Op. 127, 130, 131, 132, and 135 pieces alongside the Grosse Fuge, were composed during the final years of Beethoven's life, representing a significant shift toward complex, introspective, and structurally experimental music. The Amadeus Quartet’s approach was noted for its warmth and technical polish, and this 1982 compilation remains a significant entry in the Deutsche Grammophon catalog, serving as a standard reference for the ensemble's contribution to the Beethoven canon.