Of these two great classical quartets which look forward so much to the heights of the Romantic period, one (Death and the Maiden) is almost universally loved. The almost contemporary A minor quartet is sometimes referred to as the Rosamunde because of its strong thematic links to Schuberts incidental music to that play. Both are here played on period instruments, with gut strings, in what is an authentic and thoroughly top-class performance by one of our foremost string ensembles. The Fitzwilliam Quartet has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Acknowledged as one of the finest British quartets of our age they are equally at home in the classics, playing period instruments, or in the modern and contemporary repertoire, having had personal links with Shostakovich who called the Fitzwilliams the preferred performers of my quartets.