Beethoven: The Late String Quartets,  Budapest String Quartet in Concert at The Library of Congress
This three-CD set presents live performances from the Library of Congress by the most famous  chamber ensemble of them all. Dates range from 1941 to 1960, capturing the Budapest in its prime.  Compared with their more sedate, though still hugely impressive studio recordings, the group plays here  with greater abandon and risk-taking. It pays off handsomely in more nuanced phrasing, greater intensity,  especially in slow movements, and some recklessly fast speeds that add to the thrills. As expected, the 1960  performances are better-sounding sonically, though not completely without intonation problems; the earlier  performances are almost flawless, but in boxy, dated sound. These interpretations still stand high among  the best available, presenting a highly dramatic, thrustful Beethoven with the added excitement only live  concert performances can give.--Dan Davis