There is an exciting combination of influences in this first recording of the all-female Dutch quartet, although the fact that the word ‘crossover’ appears in their booklet-notes should be reported as lost in translation: the heritage of string quartet-playing is too authentic in it, and there is too much skill behind the kaleidoscoping of colours from phrase to phrase that loses nothing in its perfection of ensemble in the process. In fact, their blend is as familiar, unified and single-voiced as any long-established quartet – even those in the Endellion mould. Their emphasis of certain key points in phrases does, though, have a quality that is undeniably incongruous (even if it is to your taste), and although there is nevertheless great intensity in their playing, it can be hard to connect with the sense that that fervour represents musical intent, rather than simply living in the moment.

‘Vivere’ is about death, and the playing for all that is energetically uplifting. They do catch the sense in Death and the Maiden that although Schubert was frightened of death, he wasn’t unable to see some of what was beautiful in life. But if anything on this disc draws together the theme of death and its title ‘To Live’ into a single, life-affirming strand, it’s Jörg Widmann’s Hunting Quartet. Surprisingly traditional in many elements of its conception, it has the addictive quality of a traditional quartet fermenting into something altogether more interesting. And more humourous, too, with the players shouting hunting calls into a texture that really does decay into a blood-soaked mess by the end.