Schubert's early string quartets show experimentation with a cornucopia of musical ideas, some more successful than others. Ten years later, his self-criticism – and perhaps his personal experiences too – resulted in a much more taut and focused style with unity of purpose, still showing lively exuberance, but also sorrowful reflection.
By looking at a selection of quartets from the Cuarteto Casals programmes, the quartet examines these enticing examples of Schubert's stylistic development in detail.