Mendelssohn’s quartets have been receiving a good bit of attention on disc, and for good reason. They are the finest works in their medium between Beethoven and Dvorák, and one of them, the F minor quartet Op.80, just might be Mendelssohn’s finest instrumental work in any form.

More consistent in quality than his symphonies, elegant and shapely, these quartets deserve much wider exposure: no set makes a better case for them than this one. The sound quality is extremely natural, warm and present, with remarkably little extraneous performance noise – in short, an essential set for lovers of great chamber music and great quartet playing.

“The Talich play with an expressive but unadulterated naturalness, perfectly modulated tempi, an acute sensitivity to shape and structure and a beautifully understated reciprocity. An outstanding issue.” - Gramophone

“Mendelssohn quartets are hard to find on CD. This set by the Talich Quartet offers terrific playing and outstanding sound. The Talich give a wonderful performance, as they do of the agonised F minor quartet, Op 80, and the four assorted pieces of Op 81. The interpretations are spontaneous enough to seem live. Outstanding!” - The Sunday Times

“The Talich Quartet’s powerful committed performances emphasise the strongly Beethovenian provenance of the two youthful String Quartets, Opp. 12 & 13. Fantastically clear articulation, coupled with warm engineering.” - BBC Music Magazine