Antonín Dvořák’s music, imbued with the spirit of Bohemia, reflects a love of his native land. His String Sextet, written in the distinctive style which brought him international fame, was an immediate success at its premiere. Composed just eight years earlier, his String Quartet no.4, unpublished until 1968, features pioneering, wild outer movements, highly unusual for the time, which foreshadowed the modernist innovations of composers decades later. A moving Andante religioso, which Dvořák made use of in future works, lies at its heart. The Polonaise exploits both the soulful and virtuoso character of the cello. Volumes 1–8 are also available.

This new release from the renowned Fine Arts Quartet is first in a series that aims to complete the chamber works of Antonín Dvořák in the Naxos catalogue. It follows eight volumes of the String Quartets recorded by the Vlach Quartet, which received a 3-star and ‘key’ rating from The Penguin Guide: ‘The playing is cultured and has warmth and vitality… performances of exceptional strength and refinement.’

Many of the Fine Arts Quartet’s recent releases have received multiple awards and distinctions, such as the Gramophone Award-winner and Recording of Legendary Status (Gramophone Classical Music Guide), Key Recording/Top Recommendation (Penguin Guide to Recorded Classical Music), and a GRAMMY Award for producer Steven Epstein (Fauré Quintets with Cristina Ortiz, 8570938), among others.

Violist Anna Kreetta Gribajcevic is a dedicated chamber musician and has performed at festivals worldwide. Jens Peter Maintz enjoys an outstanding reputation as a versatile soloist and highly sought-after chamber musician, and has appeared on several Naxos releases with the Spectrum Concerts Berlin.