Anton Dvorak’s Fourth and Fifth quartets are early works, but no less worth listening to for that. The Fourth is one of his formally “experimental” pieces, in three movements without a scherzo, while the Fifth shows a more classical, four-movement construction, the scherzo being replaced by an elegant waltz. Aside from the ubiquitous “American” Quartet (No. 12), Dvorak’s other works in the medium are scandalously neglected. The complete set has been recorded only twice before, ably by the Prague Quartet on Deutsche Grammophon, less so by the Stamitz Quartet on Bayer. It’s clear that when the Panocha finishes its cycle (and they have only one disc to go), theirs easily will be the best available. They play with such beautiful tone, perfect intonation, and invigorating rhythm that criticism is completely silenced. As one of the finest quartets in the world, the Panocha demands hearing no matter what music they do. It’s only right that they should lavish their considerable artistry on this charming, early music of their country’s greatest composer, “immature” or not.
