Dvorak: Piano Quartets; Vlach Quartet Prague, Helena Sucharova-Weiser (piano)

Continuing their Dvorak chamber music series for Naxos, three members of the Vlach Quartet Prague are joined by pianist Helena Sucharova-Weiser in this breathless recording of the piano quartets in D and E flat major. These players have a natural ownership of Dvorak's music, throwing his lilting, fluid themes around with an easy charm. Only in the allegro con fuoco of the second quartet does wild abandon momentarily slip over into something approaching anarchy, but we are soon back on an even melodic keel. Hugely enjoyable.