I LOVE the Quartetto Italiano in the late Beethovens and late Schuberts. Never heard the "Canzona di ringranziamento..." or the Grosse Fuge with such perfection and intensity. Being a pianist, they sound to me a bit like an "Arrau Quartet"! Extremely faithful to the score in every detail, every nuance. Specially in Beethoven -like the mature Arrau- they take usually a "moderate" tempo, never too light or "grazioso", always serious; thats why I prefer other performances of the early works. But really a great, great ensemble. Miguel.