Brahms: String Quintets

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Whatever the WDR Chamber Players’ tone may lack in grit is made up for in warmth and clarity…the WDR musicians play with generous legato yet dig into the phrases in a way that draws one just... — Gramophone Magazine, July 2017 More…

Release Date: 21st Apr 2017
Catalogue No: PTC5186663
Label: Pentatone
Length: 59 minutes

Brahms: String Quintet No. 1 in F major, Op. 88

Work length28:48

$7.00

$9.00

WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne Chamber Players

I. Allegro non troppo ma con brio

Track length11:11

$3.00

$3.85

II. Grave ed appassionato - Allegretto vivace - Tempo I - Presto - Tempo I

Track length12:01

$3.00

$3.85

III. Allegro energico - Presto

Track length5:36

$1.00

$1.30

Brahms: String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 111

Work length30:16

$6.00

$7.75

WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne Chamber Players

I. Allegro non troppo ma con brio

Track length12:51

$3.00

$3.85

II. Adagio

Track length6:44

$1.00

$1.30

III. Un poco allegretto

Track length5:37

$1.00

$1.30

IV. Vivace ma non troppo presto - Animato

Track length5:04

$1.00

$1.30

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Radiant, expansive, lyrical and utterly compelling, Brahms’s richly rewarding string quintets are exuberantly unleashed by the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne Chamber Players in this album.

These technically demanding works contain everything one could wish for from the mature Brahms: searching melodies woven into glowing, luxuriant textures, lyrical introspection with subdued sonorities, to youthful abandon in breathless, rhythmic passages.

“You have never before had such a beautiful work from me”, Brahms told his publisher about his Quintet No.1 in F major, Op. 88. This was no idle boast. The amiable and leisurely first movement with its warmly inviting opening melody is followed by a haunting second movement based on a sarabande with exquisite interplay between the instruments. In a nod to Beethoven, the energetic final movement is a masterly combination of fugue and sonata form but the result is pure Brahms.

The WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne was formed in 1947. It has recorded extensively and is renowned for its interpretation of 20th century and contemporary music in addition to the standard classical repertoire. Its chief conductor is Jukka - Pekka Saraste. The WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne Chamber Players are all members of the orchestra as well as pursuing their own international careers: Ye Wu (violin, Leader), Andreea Florescu (violin), Tomek Neugebauer (viola), Mischa Pfeiffer (viola) and Susanne Eychmüller (cello). The WDR Symphony Orchestra has, as part of the season, its own regular chamber music subscription series. The concerts take place in the WDR Radio Hall and all concerts are recorded and broadcast on the radio. This is their first recording for PENTATONE.

Reviews

July 2017

Whatever the WDR Chamber Players’ tone may lack in grit is made up for in warmth and clarity…the WDR musicians play with generous legato yet dig into the phrases in a way that draws one just as effectively into the music’s rich texture…the central Grave ed appassionato is unusually introspective, convincingly trading full-throated threnody for delicate wistfulness

16th August 2017

They sidestep the pitfall of labouring the Brahmsian point, instead maintaining impetus and carefully considering textural balance while bringing abundant depth and warmth to this wonderful music.

Brahms: String Quintets

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