Beethoven – Ligeti

Two titans of the string quartet repertoire, and favorites of Spektral Quartet, form the pillars of this rousing and lusty program. Ligeti transforms the ensemble into a textural organism, a creeping amoeba of timbre, in his Quartet No. 2 while Beethoven's Opus 132 finds the composer expressing fervent gratitude after his narrow escape from grave illness. The 3rd movement, Heiliger Dankgesang, is quite literally worth the price of admission.

Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet in A minor, Op 132
György Ligeti: String Quartet No 2

(h/t: Jeremy Denk)