Mieczysław Weinberg, the 20th century Polish composer long resident in Moscow, is no longer an obscure figure in the classical recording sphere. Most of his 22 symphonies are available, and a complete set of his 17 string quartets exists on the CPO label, played with sensitivity by the excellent Danel Quartet. Another young quartet, the Arcadia, is now embarking on a new set for Chandos, and this first release promises much.

Arcadia Quartet

There is nothing exploratory about these performances. They are lived in. Listen to the savagery of the musicians’ attack in the Scherzo of Quartet No 5 (a sibling of the Scherzo of Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony), or the depth of feeling in the heart-rending opening movement of No 8. They might have been playing this music for decades.

If the Second...