All contemporary string quartets yield to the Pavel Haas in the native rhythmic lift and songful melodic breadth they bring to this music, but you would need to buy three discs to enjoy their state-of-the-art performances on disc.

The Takács’s programme, preceding Smetana’s E minor quartet 'From My Life' with Janáček’s two late 'autobiographical' quartets inspired by his infatuation with Kamila Stosslova, is logical and compelling. The Takács favour richer, darker sonorities than the Pavel Haas, but I could easily live with both.