Composed when Rubinstein was a 22-year-old virtuoso seeking lasting artistic stature, the Op.17 quartets fuse classical poise with ardent Romantic expression. The F-major work unfolds from a “con espressione” opening into a finely woven web of motifs, its hunting scherzo and deeply felt Adagio bound to a finale that recalls earlier ideas in a grand, symphonic coda. The C-minor quartet looks further back in time: a Bach-like fugal opening grows into expansive lyric paragraphs, while a restless scherzo and whispered A-flat Andante prepare an impassioned, dramatic finale that balances turbulence with chorale-like calm. Throughout, the prominent cello lines and intricate inner voices highlight Rubinstein’s command of quartet dialogue. The Reinhold Quartett, drawing on the sonorous tradition of the Leipzig Gewandhaus, shapes this long-neglected cycle with clarity, warmth and an eloquent sense of narrative.