Early Beethoven Heard Afresh: An Interview with Johannes Leertouwer.

This article is an interview with violinist and teacher Johannes Leertouwer about the Narratio Quartet's new recording of Beethoven's op. 18 quartets. Leertouwer discusses the challenges and excitement of historically informed performance practice, as well as the use of portamento in their interpretations. The quartet's approach to Beethoven's music is characterized by constant discovery, reinvention, and surprise, creating an intimate and immersive experience for the audience. The article also touches on the quartet's recording process and the release of the quartets in three volumes. The article discusses the performance of Beethoven's op. 18 string quartets by the Narratio Quartet. The quartet's approach to the music is characterized by spontaneity, flexibility, and a departure from traditional performance practices. They employ varied and liberal use of vibrato, rhythmic flexibility, and portamento. The quartet's interpretation offers a fresh perspective on the music, challenging conventional notions of interpretation and bringing new expressive possibilities to the forefront. The recording is praised for its rich and full sound quality. [Extracted from the article]