Chamber

A collection of 60 posts

19th Century

The Chamber Music of Eduard Nápravník

Superbly recorded, brilliantly and extensively annotated, this entire disc breathes class

Chamber

Soloists from the Karajan-Akademie excel in Ravel and Beethoven

An hour of pure joy

Cello

Martinů Cello Sonatas on Pentatone

It is hard to imagine a finer combination of stunning performances and demonstration-standard recording

Steve Reich

Steve Reich: The String Quartets

"I never expected to write a string quartet" - Steve Reich

Baroque

Music for archlute, guitar and harpsichord

A lovely disc, beautifully recorded in Palermo, in February 2021. The rewards are many and varied ...

Mozart

The Chiaroscuro Quartet triumphs in Mozart's Prussian Quartets

There appears to be absolutely nothing negative to say about this disc from any angle

Chamber

Ethel Smyth and Delius String Quartets

What a great discovery this disc is - It is the Smyth that lingers most in the memory

Beethoven

Beethoven for Three (2): Pastoral & Op. 1/3

The performances are pretty much beyond criticism. Fascinating for the “Pastoral”; but the C-Minor Trio is a corker of a performance!

Beethoven

What was Beethoven's Op. 1?

A wonderful release; future instalments are eagerly awaited

Mendelssohn

Repost: Meet the Mendelsohns on Chandos: Fanny & Felix

A brilliant, life-enhancing disc that introduces substantive music, brilliantly recorded

Beethoven

Dem Erzherzog gewidmet: A noble Archduke in Gsteig

Chamber music in the gorgeous setting of Gsteig, Switzerland

French

Repost: Eric Tanguy Chamber Music: “In a Dream”

This is richly rewarding music, brilliantly played and recorded

Chamber

Between Two Worlds: Music for String Quartet

Between Two Worlds is a magnificent disc; beautifully recorded, still mroe beautifully played. It leaves an indelible impact.

Chamber

Saint-Georges: Six Concertante Quartets

Do try this disc - it is positively revelatory!

Schubert

Schubert Late String Quartets from the Fitzwilliam Quartet

Superbly immediate Schubert, fresh, full of contrasts and raw power

Chamber

Moeran Chamber Music

Moeran's voice is brilliantly individual. It's a fair but though, that those readers who enjoy the English Pastoralist tradition will enjoy this!

Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn The Three String Quintets on Chandos

I really cannot recommend the Doric/Ridout performances highly enough

Baroque

Leclair Violin Sonatas on Naxos

A simply lovely disc, beautifully performed

Chamber

Auftakt: Trio Vision in Beethoven, Brahms and Hans Gál

What better way to spend a Sunday than with some chamber music performed at the highest level? This is a lovely litle programme ("Auftakt" means "Prelude," or "Upbeat" in teh musical sense. so I hope there's more to come!). Here,  two towering masters of the Austro-Germanic tradition sandwich a fascinating

Paganini

Paganini Quartets for Strings & Guitar

Lesser-known works can sometime be revelatory ... Paganini's Quartets for Strings and Guitar fit snugly into that category

Dvorak

Dvořák String Quartets, Volume 4

The Vogler Quartet is a major ensemble, and utterly dedicated to the music of Dvořák. A wonderful release

Chamber

Egyptian Nights: an Arensky ballet (plus a PIano Trio!)

The music of Anton Arensky has long been due serious reappraisal. Perhaps these two discs can point us in that direction ...

Chamber

Of All Joys: from the Renaissance to Minimalism

Every inch an album for our times yet full of timelss music, this is a toucing and thought-provoking release

Chamber

Dmitri Klebanov's Chamber music on Chandos

Chandos continues to introduce us to composers whose music is more than worthwhile, all in performances and recordings of the very highest qualit

Chamber

Ignaz Pleyel's Haydnesque Prussian Quartets Nos. 10-12

Delightful music, superbly performed and rrecorded. What's not to like?