The Piano Quintet in E flat is the finest of Robert Schumann's large-scale chamber works, with inspiration and craftsmanship in perfect balance. There is little doubt that this was the work that established Schumann's reputation as a composer.
The String Quartet in A minor is greatly influenced by quartets written by Mendelssohn, to whom Schumann dedicated this work. It has a rich and beautifully blended sonority.
The Schidlof Quartet are joined on this recording by Bernard D'Ascolil who won third prize in the Leeds International Piano Competition on 1981 and has since performed in all the prestigious venues around the world.