Unsettling Bartók brought to life

The Vermeer Quartet add new zeal to Bartók's challenging String Quartets Nos 1-6

Composer: Bartók
Repertoire: String Quartets Nos 1-6
Artists: Vermeer Quartet
Rating:  4/5 
Genre: Chamber
Label: Naxos 8.557543-44

For almost a century composers failed to respond to the painful introspection of Beethoven’s late string quartets – that is until Bartók produced his First Quartet in 1908. From that point onwards there was no stopping Bartók as he embraced bitonality and an unprecedented range of instrumental sonorities, all brought stunningly to life here by the Vermeer Quartet. Not easy listening by any means, but essential for anyone interested in 20th-century music.