While groups of international standing have taken the Grieg and Sibelius quartets into their repertoire, the four of Nielsen (like those of Berwald and Stenhammar) have remained the province of Scandinavian groups. In the Nielsen competition is hardly legion: the only current, modern rivals are the Kontra Quartet and the Danish Quartet, the third ensemble to bear that name.
The Russian violinist, Alexander Zapolski, formed his quartet some five years ago and it has established quite a reputation in Denmark for its Shostakovich and Nielsen – as well as Zapolski’s own transcriptions of such pieces as Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. The present issue couples Nielsen’s First Quartet, written in 1889 but revised nine years later and published as Op. 13, and his last, in F major, from 1906. It throws in for good measure the composer’s very first opus, the Little Suite for strings in Zapolski’s own transcription. His players form an ensemble of prowess and quality, although they do not always allow the music to speak for itself: dynamic contrasts are at times exaggerated and draw attention to themselves, particularly in the first movement of the Fourth, and the Allegretto movement is fussy and mannered – and certainly not innocente. Everything is carefully projected and studied rather than spontaneous and unforced in expression. Tonally the sound is impeccable, beautifully blended and balanced, an impression enhanced by the rather upfront recording. The Kontra or Danish Quartets are to be preferred.'