Matchless Artistry The Wihan Quartet plays Dvorák - recommended by HOWARD SMITH '... the finest of bravura chamber performances.'

Anyone wanting a complete boxed sets of the Dvorák string quartets is spoilt for choice as never before. Arguably topping the list, the complete quartets have supreme advocates with the Prague String Quartet (recorded 1977) on nine discs for Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Hamburg.

Those looking for a single disc with the 11th and 12th have this Nimbus Alliance CD and one other to choose between.

The one identical coupling (1976, re-released 1987) is that by the Talich Quartet on Calliope Records (CAL4617).

While not quite in the same street a splendid, budget alternative from the early 1990s features the Vlach Quartet with the first two volumes of Naxos' eight-disc Dvorák set -- Vol 1: Nos 12, Op 96, 'American' and 13, Op 106 (8.553371) plus Vol 2: Nos 8, Op 80, and 11, Op 61 (8.553372)...

WIHAN QUARTET

ANTONIN DVORAK

NIMBUS RECORDS

CZECH REPUBLIC

UNITED KINGDOM

CHAMBER MUSIC