JOHANN WENZEL KALLIWODA (1801-1866): String Quartets No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 61, No. 2 in A, Op. 62 and No. 3 in G, Op. 90.

Description: There is very little from this genre on disc between Spohr/Onslow (b. 1784) and Raff (b. 1822) except for the Ignaz Lachner quartets, so this release, finally available in the U.S. is particularly desirable for collectors of early Romantic chamber music. Written in 1834 but not all published together, these pieces both follow Spohr (in the first) and the quatuor brillant composers (some quite virtuosic work for the first violin in the second and third) while folk-music is never far, particularly the rhythms of the mazurka. Talich Quartet.