Although Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) is better known today for his operas and film scores, he composed chamber music throughout his life. Indeed, his Op. 1 is a piano trio written when he was just 13. The three string quartets span his maturity and all deserve to be better known, making this new release from the Tippett Quartet especially welcome.

The First String Quartet was completed in 1923. Premiered by the Rosé Quartet (the ensemble led by Mahler’s brother-in-law), it shows the composer moving away from the lush harmonies of his youth to embrace a tougher, more acerbic sound.

The opening “Allegro” drifts in and out of Bartók territory, albeit with a softer centre; the “Adagio” is wistful; the “Intermezzo” spiky and playful; and the “Allegretto” finale (which includes a scabrously witty march section) good-natured and relaxed. The Tippetts are not just technically on the money, they find a story in this music and tell it most persuasively.

The Nazis ensured that the Second Quartet, written in 1933, was scarcely heard in the German-speaking world. Despite the troubled times, it’s a work of considerable charm...