Beethoven/String Quartets Nos.15 & 16 (Smetana Quartet, 1983/1985)

Beethoven's two string quartets full of maturity in technique in his later days, No.15 in A Minor, Op.132 and No.16 in F Major, Op.135. No.15 is a joyful, mleodic five-movement piece with beautiful harmonies, known for its long, impressive third movement with Phrygian mode (one of the old church modes). No.16 is one of his last works, and a small, compact piece in open and upbeat atmosphere, like Haydn. selected from Smetana String Quartet's complete string quartets digital recordings (1976-1985).