Sound quality is pretty good, clean and spacious with just a hint of perforation at the edges. Roll on, volume two. © MusicWeb International Read complete review

This disc is apparently the first of three covering the composer’s output for string quartet. The group named after the composer play his music with appropriate textural richness, pointing up another influence: Brahms. They are cleanly and warmly recorded. © 2013 Fanfare Read complete review

The world premiere recording of the second quartet written in 1920 follows. Also in four movements, this is a much more progressive piece with an opening allegro…having all the rigor of those furrow-browed movements in Beethoven’s (1770–1827) late quartets (1810–26). The tension is relieved by an introspective adagio…where thematic fragmentation and chromatic manipulation give the music a late-romantic cast.

The next intermezzo…is a curiosity. It starts off with an agitated cheeky opening section…followed by a fugal episode that’s set off like a separate movement…It’s almost as if Isasi pasted on one of his counterpoint exercises for Engelbert—and a very good one at that!

The finale takes the form of another allegro with a couple of memorable themes that are skillfully elaborated. Harmonic diversity holds the listener’s attention, and makes the final recapitulation all the more dramatic as the quartet ends joyously.

The Isasi Quartet is a strong proponent of their namesake’s music, giving us technically polished, moving accounts of these scores. They leave you anxiously anticipating their next installment for Naxos exploring this neglected corner of late romantic chamber music. © 2012 Classical Lost and Found Read complete review