When great musicians are combined with great music, an audience can usually expect a great performance. But when the Guarneri String Quartet was combined with Ludwig van Beethoven's music Saturday night, the performance was not great.

It was fabulous.

The quartet, which has played extensively worldwide, wowed a sold-out Schwab Auditorium with a performance that exhibited extraordinary grace and precision.

Guarneri brought new life to three quartets Beethoven wrote in the early 19th century, perhaps bringing the audience as close to Beethoven as is possible in 1990.

The group began the recital with Quartet in G Major, Opus 18, No. 2, and handled the piece with gentle precision. "Allegro" began with a light phrase and swelled into beautiful harmonies as G Major progressed through "Adagio cantabile," "Scherzo," and "Allegro molto quasi presto." The second piece, Quartet in B-flat Major, Opus 18, No. 6, ebbed and flowed, carrying the audience with its rich full tones. The last phrase of "L Malinconia - Adgio - Allegretto quasi allegro" grabbed the audience's attention with its final fast-paced phrase.

The final work was Quartet in F Major, Opus 59, No. 1. The notes of "Allegro" danced from Guarneri's strings. "Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando" swirled from high to low tones, from fast-moving to slow. "Theme russe - Allegro" teased the audience with numerous false endings, gradually building to a climax.

The performance was technically and emotionally balanced, and the atmosphere was reminiscent of a bygone era. Every note and every phrase was executed with near perfection. Each quartet was performed with punctuality and the individual parts never strayed from their paths.

Violinist Steinhardt led Guarneri through the recital with exacting command of his instrument. He played tiny high notes and surging phrases equally well. The smooth tones from David Soyer's cello blended with and balanced the higher, sharper ones of the violins and viola.

It is easy to see why the Guarneri String Quartet has survived 26 years with its original members. To say musicians Steinhardt, John Dalley, Michael Tree and Soyer work well together is an understatement. At times, it appeared the quartet's movements and timing blended so perfectly that its members were never separated.