THis is the second installment in Centaur’s complete cycle of the Beethoven String Quartets performed by The Arianna String Quartet. The Early Quartets were released previously, and the late quartets are in progress. This is a truly first-rate Beethoven cycle. Hailed for their outstanding musicianship, the Arianna String Quartet has firmly established itself as one of America’s finest chamber ensembles. Their performances have been praised for “tonal warmth, fastidious balance… expressive vitality” (Chicago Tribune) and “emotional commitment and fluent firtuosity,” (Pretoria News, South Africa). Formed in 1992, the ASQ garnered national attention by winning the Grand Prize in the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, First Prize in both the Coleman and Carmel Chamber Music Competitions, and were Laureates in the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition.
