For their eighth outing with the British Hyperion label Australia’s finest, the Goldner String Quartet and pianist Piers Lane, transport the listener to the richly romantic sound world of Max Bruch.

Famed for his first violin concerto – his other two remain relatively rare curiosities – the German composer wrote very few chamber works, and those that survive come from the beginning and end of his career. He composed two string quartets, the one on this terrific album is his first, from his student days.

The influence of Brahms is all pervasive, but there’s no harm in that and the work, performed with great expressive beauty here by the double husband and wife team led by Sydney Symphony co-concertmaster
Dene Olding, shows that the 18 year-old already had a good grip on development and technique, with strong melodies and some interesting dynamic shifts. Olding and
Dimity Hall, second violin, combine beautifully while violist Irina Morozova and cellist Julian Smiles lend impeccable support.

Lane, who was born in London but brought up in Brisbane, joins them for the best work on the programme, the thoroughly engaging piano quintet, which Bruch slaved over for seven years before finally delivering to his dedicatees from the...