The two Franz Schmidt quartets have been recorded before by the Vienna Konzerthaus Quartet for Preiser though the performances, dating from the 1960s, fell short of distinction. (In the G major of 1929, intonation was strained in the first two movements and they had little real vitality and not always adequate sonority.) The highly chromatic, dense part-writing that opens this quartet, with its innumerable enharmonic changes, calls for far more persuasive advocacy than the Vienna Konzerthaus Quartet had at their command. Schmidt was not a prolific composer but nearly all his music is of quality, and radiates a mastery and nobility that recalls the likes of Elgar, Stenhammar and Suk. In both quartets and in the quintets with clarinet there is a strong affinity with or indebtedness to his immediate contemporary, Reger. Indeed, like Reger’s quartets, these are unlikely to enjoy as wide a following as they deserve.
The Franz Schubert Quartet of Vienna play this music with a conviction, beauty of tone and wide dynamic range that eluded their predecessors. The slow movement of the A major Quartet, for example, is beautifully played and even the dense chromaticism of the G major is well elucidated. Moreover the recording is well balanced with plenty of air around the aural image. In short, these performances are unlikely to be surpassed for a long time, and can be warmly recommended. Both quartets take just under 40 minutes each so that Nimbus offer good value in giving us both on one CD.'