This first volume in what promises to be a complete traversal of Danish composer Carl Nielsen’s four string quartets ought to make many new friends for the music. Though well known as a symphonist of imposing stature, Nielsen is rarely recognized for his chamber music, with the single exception of the wind quintet. There’s no particularly good reason for this. The quartets have all of the composer’s best qualities: a very personal vein of melody, bracing rhythm, and a masterly balance of expressive intensity and musical logic. They are also extremely well played and recorded on this very affordable, budget-priced CD. If you like Romantic chamber music, then you really should give these works a listen. You won’t be sorry.
