The Primrose String Quartet was undoubtedly one of the most virtuosic ensembles ever assembled. Established by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), it featured the most prominent members from Arturo Toscanini’s legendary NBC Symphony Orchestra, and was named after the remarkable violist William Primrose. Born in Glasgow in 1904, Primrose began his career as a violinist studying with the great Eugène Ysaÿe before switching to the viola in his early 20s. He soon estabished a major solo career and was regarded as the leading viola soloist of his era. While playing in the NBC Symphony, Primrose made numerous solo recordings for the RCA label, and in 1938 a resident string quartet with members of the NBC Symphony was established.

With the outstanding Josef Gingold, one of Eugène Ysaÿe’s prize students, on second violin, the 21-year-old Oscar Shumsky – whom Primrose declared to be ‘one of the greatest virtuosos I have ever heard’ – was appointed as the Quartet’s first violinist. With the American-born cellist Harvey Shapiro, who studied with Julius Klengel in Germany, the Primrose Quartet was finally established. According to Primrose, ‘I am quite convinced – and am conceited enough to say so – that no quartet ever played that had the instrumental ability of my quartet….The group had no cripple; we all played in a virtuoso matter.’

In 1940, the Primrose Quartet made several recordings for RCA Victor, and was well on its way to become the premier quartet ensemble in the United States. Unfortunately, the US entry into Second World War at the end of 1941 and the American Federation of Musicians strike a year later seriously curtailed recording activity for all musical artists. Although the Primrose Quartet never recorded a Beethoven quartet for RCA, this CD release of live broadcast recordings from 1939 offers a glimpse into what their recorded Beethoven legacy might have been.