Chilingirian Quartet
"Korngold: String Quartets 1 & 3" (CD)

Recorded in 1976, this CD release of two of Korngold's quartets was surely a labor of love at the time. Korngold and his music was often overlooked for the decades immediately following his death. His work in Hollywood gave him the reputation among many reputable musicians for being a "film composer."

These quartets tell a different story, however. They are perhaps not as inventive as Bartok, but they pull from a compelling assortment of influences. They remind me a lot of intricate Prokofiev quartets, alternating between complex technical work and open, sonorous folk-like melodies. I very much want to learn these quartets now.