Dvorak: String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 77 (formerly Op. 18)

“the recording, clean and warm-toned, is the equal of the playing” Gramophone Magazine (Quintet, Op. 77)

“most sensitively handled” Gramophone Magazine (Quintet Op. 97)

“the finest and best recorded performance” Gramophone Magazine (of the ‘American’ Quartet)

“All recommendable: there is a beautifully poised rendition of Dvorak's String Sextet and the players are persuasively idiomatic in the American Quartet and Quintet” BBC Music Magazine, August 2011 ****

“The Berlin Philharmonic Quintet performs superbly. The first movement has just the right sense of understatement, while they bring credible depth and vocal expressiveness to the slow movement. They develop an appropriately epic feeling in the finale, with its almost Sibelian first theme...The remaining two works on this slender issue are also, for the most part, beautifully judged.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2012 ****

“Dvorák's 'Double Bass' Quintet, from the mid 1870s… benefits from the crystallisation of his mature style. …this superb performance goes very much to the head of the field.” BBC Music Magazine, September 2007 *****

“…bright, idiomatic performances of both these attractive quintets, making an excellent coupling. The relatively fast speeds chosen by the Skampa seem to enhance the rhythmic resilience of these performances, with the light, bright recording enhancing the impact of both works. Kathryn Stott makes a most sympathetic partner in the Piano Quintet...” Gramophone Magazine, October 2007

"A fabulous CD by the Nash Ensemble that I cannot recommend too highly" (BBC Radio 3)

“The richly lyrical sextet, composed in the wake of the first set of Slavonic Dances… shows the influence of Brahms. The Nash Ensemble is particularly adept in externalising its rich vein of sentiment notably in the extraordinarily beautiful first movement. The evident affection, strong sense of ensemble and the lower strings full-throated tone in this impressive performance puts it for me at the top of the not very extensive list of available recordings.” BBC Music Magazine, October 2005

“The Nash Ensemble are well recorded and play with refined expression while attacking the brilliant, quasi-orchestral music in the two finales with force and spirit.” Gramophone Magazine, December 2005

“The pianist here is Susan Tomes, who encourages a performance full of mercurial contrasts that seem entirely apt. For example, in the second movement Dumka there's more light and shade, and the Scherzo sparkles even more, leading to a jaunty, exuberant finale. The G major String Quintet, the earliest of the two which Dvorák wrote, the one with extra double bass, is similarly lighter than the Chilingirian Quartet on Chandos. The Chilingirian is just as strongly characterised as the Gaudier, with a firmer, fuller tone. Marieke Blankestijn's violin is thinner than Levon Chilingirian's, but it can be just as beautiful, as in the lovely high-floating second subject of the slow movement. A fine disc.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“a sparkling performance of the glorious Piano Quintet...full of mercurial contrasts that seen entirely apt and with rhythms superbly sprung. The account of the G major String Quartet has warmth and humanity well caught” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition

“Dvorák's String Quintet with double bass can be counted among his finest chamber works (or actually among his finest works, period). It contains all of the composer's trademark compositional virtues: vibrant energy, gorgeous melodies, dancing rhythms, and an overall life-affirming spirit. There's spirit aplenty in the Vlach Quartet's joyous reading, augmented by Jakub Waldmann's double bass, which, thanks to Naxos' beautifully balanced, sonorous recording, adds a satisfyingly deep bottom to the ensemble sound..In sum, a richly varied and highly enjoyable program. 9/9” Classics Today