"This recording brilliantly illuminates the counterpoint; the listener can hear each of the musical lines as they smoothly weave around one another. This clarity is partly owing to the wonderful purity of the singers’ tones—there is not a speck of vibrato to distract! Countertenor Franz Vitzthum’s sound is particularly striking; his melismas positively soar. But the recording itself is also well balanced."

"These readings are passionate, polished, and utterly committed. I especially love their way with the fast movements in both pieces, full of syncopated, rambunctious joy. Much of this music is steeped in folk motifs, though it is complex and highly contrapuntal. Quintet 1, from 1952, opens with an austere unison motif that haunts the entire piece. This is a big, expressive work, with a wacky, heavily accented Presto based on the Polish oberek, an eloquent slow movement, and a fast-flying finale, all played here with freshness and a sense of adventure. The quartet is just as captivating, especially the triumphant finale. The piece opens with a somber, hymn-like introduction that becomes increasingly tender before an ostinato ushers in vigorous fast music, the movement building toward a bright, affirmative major chord at the end. The album closes with a folk tune arranged for quartet—a charming coda. The recorded sound is intimate and appealing."

"This is my first encounter with both the Romantic Fantasy and the 2 soloists. More, please, from Mathis Rochat and Abigel Kralik, 2 gorgeous players steeped in the traditions of great string players in the early and mid-20th Century."

Critics’ Choice 2025 - Rob Haskins