The introduction of Bartók's string quartets in the Netherlands was not without a struggle. In 1921, Telegraaf critic Constant van Wessem labeled Bartók's first fruits as something of 'questionable value' alongside the 'blessing-celebrating' quartets by Beethoven and Brahms. Composer Willem Pijper, on the other hand, spoke of an 'extremely interesting masterpiece'. In a later article he even
… referred to Bartók's music as related to Beethoven's last string quartets and piano sonatas. The battle of 1921 has now been settled, in Pijper's favor: Bartók's string quartets are still one of the most important pieces in the genre composed after Beethoven. With this in mind, the composition of the Schumann Quartett's debut album is telling: once again Bartók in the company of Beethoven and Brahms. Anyway, Bartók's String Quartet No. 3 will no longer cause much fuss in the international press. All the more about the implementation. It is in excellent hands with this young quartet, also first prize winner of the International Schubert and Modern Music Competition (Austria, 2012). Without a doubt they achieve a great success with this album, to stay in Pijper's jargon. (JWvR)more
