Aperto Piano Quartet
Gernot Süßmuth (violin)
Stefan Fehlandt (viola)
Hans-Jakob Eschenburg (cello)
Frank-Immo Zichner (piano)
Felix Schwartz (viola)

The first of two discs containing the complete piano quartets and string trios of Max Reger, this release features the 'String Trio in A minor' of 1904, a work of almost Mozartian clarity and the 1910 'Piano Quartet in D minor'. Modelled on Brahms' 'C minor Piano Quartet', Reger's Quartet is a deeply expressive and intense work, with an often grotesque sense of humour. The composer himself described the 'Vivace' second movement as a "crazy Scherzo".