Brahms's Piano Quartets are all masterpieces, and these are among the best modern recordings of them. There are a few historic recordings (particularly the Adolf Busch-Rudolf Serkin version of Op. 26) that have more firepower, but these 1973 Beaux Arts versions have plenty of flexibility and power of their own. The couplings are generous, the price reasonable, and the sound just fine. But beware of the "Brahms" Trio in A, which is dubiously authenticated. If Brahms did write this music, which I doubt, he showed excellent judgment in suppressing it. Fortunately, the provably genuine Brahms in this set is worth its price. --Leslie Gerber