Search - Johannes Brahms, Leopold String Trio, Marc-Andre Hamelin :: Brahms: The Piano Quartets

The best available?

John N. Taylor | Palm Desert, CA, USA | 04/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having had the Ax/Stern/Laredo/Ma for a while, I wondered what this performance would be like.

It is as near perfection as can be imagined. There is no hint of strain in any of the parts of these exceptionally demanding works. It is a joy to hear such ensemble playing with Hamelin leading - but not dominating the ensemble.

The addition of the late Brahms pieces enhances the issue and hopefully there will be more to come!

If you have any doubts - try the samples and then I am sure you will buy!

"

Brahms - Piano Quartets

Likes classical music | 05/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent musical presentation as expected from Hamelin and the Leopold String Trio. If you like Brahms, this is a must have album. Very good recording."

The Brahms Piano Quartets in Their Best Recent Recordings

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 09/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"[This is the first review I've written of a downloaded CD. I do a lot of listening these days via iPod and for the most part don't feel there has been much loss sonically. And, in fairness, I made the choice to download this album from iTunes because the price was considerably less than Amazon's asking price for the 2 CD set.]



There is little doubt that Marc-André Hamelin is one of the most exciting pianists before the public today. Indeed many, myself included, simply buy everything he records without a second thought. I have never been disappointed with anything he's recorded, and of course he has recorded much music that is off the beaten path--Alkan, Roslavets, Catoire, Medtner, Godowsky and Kapustin come to mind. There are those who say he records unusual repertoire because he can't meet the competition in the central repertoire but that's hogwash. His Schumann, for instance, e.g. Schumann: Fantasy in C major; Etudes Symphoniques; Piano Sonata No. 2, is marvelous. And in this set he proves once again that he is a mature, thoughtful, thoroughly musical interpreter. His partners in this enterprise are the wonderful Leopold String Trio who have compiled their own magnficent recorded offerings, e.g. Mozart: Divertimento K. 563/K. 424 & Dohnányi: Serenade, Op. 10; Martinu: String Trio No. 2; Schoenberg: String Trio, Op. 45.



These are sparkling, joyful, musical and exceptionally cleanly played and recorded performances that are easily the equal of any others I've heard. I strongly recommend this set.



Scott Morrison"