Beethoven’s fifteenth string quartet seems to be directed upwards. From earthly – or perhaps infernal – shadows towards the heavenly light. All the late Beethoven quartets breathe that process of human struggle and catharsis in a sense, but the subtitle of the third movement of this string quartet – ‘Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit’ – emphasizes the presence of that underlying flow of feelings. Beethoven had been ill and was recovering – against his expectations. What begins with an uncertain quest, ends ‘Neue Kraft fühlend’ with two feet on the ground.