Celebrating the 250th anniversary of his birth, Sony Music Entertainment presents four major reissues devoted to Ludwig van Beethoven in it's series of Classical Masters. Among the treasures in these new budget-priced sets are the complete symphonies, string quartets and violin sonatas performed by illustrious musicians of the past century. The Guarneri Quartet, one of America's most distinguished and long-lived chamber ensembles - formed in 1964 at the Marlboro Festival, they graced the world's concert platforms for nearly half a century - recorded their widely admired complete cycle of Beethoven's 16 String Quartets for RCA in 1969. Earlier reissues of the set have elicited praise for the Guarneris' "consistently rich string tone, tasteful phrasing, intelligence, and impeccable musicianship, all in service of the music" (ClassicsToday). And Gramophone's reviewer opined that "the Guarneris' 1960s Beethoven quartet cycle stands the test of time": interpretations that are both "elegant and buoyant, with well-chosen tempos, subtle bowing, crisp articulation, telling contrasts between staccato and legato, and a consistent sense of style".
