Beethoven op. 131, A Late Quartet

Music Lane

It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes.

I haven't seen any comments here yet about the movie that came out last year, "A Late Quartet." It was not widely shown and did not play anywhere around me, so I ordered the DVD a while back. I never got around to watching until a few weeks ago, after hearing a concert at the Ravinia Festival with the Emerson Quartet. For those of you numerologists out there, let me note that the concert was on 7/7/14 and they played the number 14 quartets of Beethoven and Schubert. I see a lot of bashing of the Emersons here, and I have not been altogether pleased with previous concerts of theirs I have heard, but this one was fantastic. They have a new cellist, who was very impressive. Anyway, back to the movie. The day after the concert, my wife and I decided it was time to see it. It is about a string quartet getting ready to perform Beethoven's op. 131 in the first concert of the next season, which is their 26th season together. Their cellist (Christopher Walken), who is 30 years older than the other members is suddenly showing early stages of Parkinson's and his ability to play is uncertain. The second violinist (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), who is married to the violist, then decides that he wants to start alternating parts with the first violinist, who will have nothing of it. This triggers a quarrel that brings to light the weakness of the marriage with the violist. Meanwhile, the first violinist, a former lover of the violist starts an affair with the daughter of her and the 2nd violinist. This brings the two violinists to blows. Everything is falling apart while the wise old cellist tries to keep the quartet together. Finally it is the power of the music that brings them back together. The movie is good drama and a powerful testament to glory of the music. In the special feature on the DVD the director and co-writer says that he was trying to base the story on the structure of the op 131. Most of the music used in the soundtrack of the movie is from the quartet. I highly recommend the movie. The performances of Hoffman and Walken are wonderful. I learned a lot about the op 131 and gained a deeper appreciation of it. Everyone who loves Beethoven's late quartets, especially op 131 (Beethoven's own favorite), will enjoy it. I guess it was too artsy for the masses, but you folks will love it. Incidentally, the Emerson's switched first violin parts for the Schubert, and contrary to what the first violinist in the movie said, it didn't mess up the sound of the quartet.

Edits: 07/22/14 07/22/14

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Topic - Beethoven op. 131, A Late Quartet - Tadlo 12:52:03 07/22/14 (10)

I loved "A Late Quartet" - dvb 16:38:54 07/23/14 (0)

For those who subscribe, it's available on Netflix [nt] - Amphissa 07:37:44 07/23/14 (2)

Found it -- thanks! (nt) - briggs 13:24:47 07/24/14 (0)

Might try the Public Library... - Ivan303 07:41:30 07/23/14 (0)

Thanks! Just ordered the Blu-ray. - Russell 16:27:15 07/22/14 (1)

Thanks for the review - Tadlo 17:47:30 07/22/14 (0)

I guess Walken played out of character and didn't murder anyone? nt - tinear 15:18:51 07/22/14 (0)

Beethoven and Schubert were always split over.... - jimbill 15:02:52 07/22/14 (0)

I posted about that movie and agree - rbolaw 14:59:22 07/22/14 (1)

RE: I posted about that movie and agree - Tadlo 16:13:06 07/22/14 (0)

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