Composed in autumn of 1881, Opus 61 is the last of Dvořák’s “middle” quartets by chronology for which Beethoven and Schubert served as the most significant models. Beethoven’s influence, from thematic development to motivic treatment, is particularly noticeable in this work in C major.

It is only in the finale that the typical Slavic tonal quality usually found in Dvořák’s music surfaces somewhat more prominently. Due to a lack of time, the composer - contrary to his usual practice - turned t...