Mozart:
Streichquartette Nr. 21 & 22
Ein musikalischer Spass KV 522
Schubert:
Streichquartette D. 703, 804, 887
Schumann:
Klavierquartett Es-Dur op. 47

The Austrian violinist Rudolf Kolisch was unusual in that he played the violin with a reversed bow and finger hand. A serious injury to his left hand in his youth forced him to relearn the instrument with the other hand, which required a modified and restrung violin. Despite this handicap, Kolisch developed into a first-class violinist. After his service in the First World War, Kolisch became interested in the music of Arnold Schönberg, with whom he studied intensively five days a week from 9 am to 5 pm. He had a lifelong friendship with Schönberg, and two years later Kolisch became Arnold Schönberg's brother-in-law when the composer married the violinist's sister, Gertrud. In 1922, Kolisch founded the Vienna String Quartet to perform new music by Schönberg and his students. in 1927, the quartet was renamed the Kolisch Quartet and was firmly established with Felix Khuner on second violin, Eugene Lehner on viola and Benar Heifetz as cellist. Unusually, the Kolisch Quartet played all the works in its concert by heart. Although the Kolisch Quartet is known for its commitment to contemporary music, it has made a name for itself primarily through its interpretations of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert. This 2-CD set contains two late Mozart quartets and the two great Schubert string quartets in A minor and G major. Also included is the Schumann Piano Quartet in E flat major with the American-born pianist Hortense Monath.