JOHANNES BRAHMS

 

The String Quintets

 

String Quintet No. 1 in F, Op. 88 

String Quintet No. 2 in G, Op. 111           

 

The Nash Ensemble:

Marianne Thorsen - violin 1

Malin Broman - violin 2

Lawrence Power - viola 1

Paul Watkins - cello 1

Philip Dukes - viola 2

 

The String Quintets are two of Brahms’ greatest chamber works. The Op. 88 was a favourite of the composer, and he wrote to his publisher that ‘you’ll never receive anything more beautiful from me’. Strangely it has been slow to find affection with the public, which is shame as it contains some of the composers most exploratory and personal music - the second movement especially so. The late Op. 111 quintet was written when Brahms had all but retired. He’d attempted a 5th and a 6th symphony, but felt he had little more to say, and it was all more difficult to put on paper. When he delivered the work to the publisher he wrote ‘… with this note you can take leave of my music, because it is high time to stop’.

 

Total time 55.40

 

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