The Hagen Quartet's intelligent program pairing Dvořák's String Quartet No. 14 with Schulhoff's Five Pieces and Kurtág's 12 Microludes creates a dialogue across musical periods. Dvořák's late quartet, written in A-flat major, is intimate and reflective, tinged with Slavic melancholy. Erwin Schulhoff, the modernist Czech composer, brings expressionistic urgency to his contribution. Kurtág's microludes are contemporary miniatures—dense, concentrated, sometimes witty, sometimes austere. The Hagen Quartet brings customary finesse and clarity to all three works, allowing each composer's voice to emerge distinctly while showing unexpected connections between them. The recording is bright and detailed. This is thoughtful programming that rewards careful listening, showing how string quartet writing has evolved while maintaining its essential intimacy.