Wit, charm and elegance aren’t qualities often associated with the Beethoven’s image as a brooding genius; he’s often seen as more of a c-minor personality than a D-MAJOR one.
If your picture of the composer is the c-minor one, you’ll be rather surprised by the second of the Op. 18 quartets. Full of 18th century elegance, politesse and with more than a dash of humour; situated between the brilliance of the first quartet and dark, romantic outpourings of the fourth, the quartet’s a gem of uncloyed musical delights.
Allegro 0:06
Adagio cantabile – Allegro – Tempo I 9:18
Scherzo – Allegro 16:10
Allegro molto, quasi presto 20:34
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The Art of Listening 