Leonard Bernstein – Beethoven String Quartet, Op. 131 (Original Source 180g Vinyl LP)

Beethoven String Quartet, Op. 131: Leonard Bernstein Reissued as Part of the Original Source Series on 180g LP from Deutsche Grammophon: Pure Analogue Mix, Cut from the Original Tapes at Emil Berliner Studios, Pressed at Optimal

Leonard Bernstein’s recording of Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 131 with the Wiener Philharmoniker stands out for its strong sense of contrast. In the central variation movement, Bernstein adopts a notably slower tempo, creating an intense and focused atmosphere, while the faster movements gain added bite and momentum. The Wiener Philharmoniker strings bring their renowned sound to the performance, making this a highly engaging interpretation. Bernstein dedicated this recording to the memory of his wife, Felicia Montealegre Bernstein.

For the first time, this recording has been remastered and cut from the original 1-inch 8-track tapes.

The audiophile vinyl series The Original Source presents outstanding recordings from the 1970s in a completely new sound quality. For this, the renowned Emil Berliner Studios remastered and cut the original four-and eight-track tapes using technologies developed specifically for the series, achieving 100% analog quality (AAA). The sonic differences compared to the original releases are considerable: greater clarity, more detail, and improvements in frequency response, combined with less background noise, distortion, and compression, deliver an audiophile listening experience like never before.

On 180g vinyl records and in a deluxe gatefold edition with original covers and lyrics, accompanied by additional photos and facsimiles of the recording logs and tape boxes.

Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131

Side A:

1. Adagio, ma non troppo e molto espressivo
2. Allegro molto vivace
3. Allegro moderato
4. Andante, ma non troppo e molto cantabile

Side B:

1. Presto
2. Adagio quasi un poco andante
3. Allegro