Dvorak String [Quartet] Quartets – No. 12 in F, “American”, B179; No. 13 in G, B192. Vlach Quartet, Prague (Jana Vlachova, Ondrej Kukal, vns; Petr Verner, va; Mikael Ericsson, vc).

Naxos (Super budget price) (CD) 8 553371 (69 minutes: DDD).

On the face of it, the credentials of the Vlach Quartet of Prague would seem to be impeccable – the group’s leader, Jana Vlachova, is the daughter of the great Josef Vlach – and, indeed, the players make a most pleasing impression on this vividly recorded new Naxos coupling. They certainly produce a beguilingly rich, beautifully blended sound and bring to this music a big-hearted, songful fervour as well as textural mastery. What is more, Dvorak’s characteristic, chugging cross-rhythms are handled with particular felicity. Interpretatively, their approach contrasts strongly with that of the Lindsay Quartet (whose full-price ASV disc also couples these same works). The Lindsay’s readings are typically refreshing in their dark-hued emotional intensity and intellectual strength, whereas their Naxos rivals adopt an altogether more coaxing, lyrically expressive stance (with the gorgeous slow movement of the American a highlight).

In the case of the masterly G major Quartet, I retain a preference for the Lindsay’s more impassioned, purposeful rendering, though these gifted newcomers show fresh insights of their own (they are especially perceptive in those wistful reminiscences at the heart of the finale). Having long admired the Alban Berg Quartet’s very fine 1975 Teldec recording, I was very pleased to see its recent reappearance as part of an enticing two-disc set (harnessed to their eloquent 1978 set of the three Brahms string quartets). In fairness, though, I should also add that all these performances are in turn outflanked by the original Vlach Quartet’s truly magnificent 1959 Czech Radio account (essential listening for all Dvorakians and now reissued on Praga). Nevertheless, this enjoyable new Naxos offering represents a real bargain.

AA