Search - Johannes Brahms, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart :: Brahms: Quintet for Clarinet and Strings; Mozart: String Quartet in D minor, KV 421

A peerless interpretation

Syrinx | Austria | 04/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first work of Brahms that I've really discovered was his Op. 120 Clarinet Sonata in F minor. The things that I've felt were things that are hard to be explained by words. I usually don't tend to write reviews of recordings, but about this special recording I've felt that I had to write some thoughts.

After his String Quartet No. 2, Op. 111 Brahms stopped composing, but Richard Muhlfeld's -who was the principal clarinettist of the orchestra that Brahms used to work with- 'magic' made him feel that he had to say more. So Brahms wrote a Clarinet Trio, two Sonatas and a Clarinet Quintet for Muhlfeld; four pieces of art that are not only masterpieces of the clarinet repertoire but also are Brahms's final words on chamber music.

When anyone would search "Brahms Clarinet Quintet" on Amazon.com, one of the first albums he/she will see will be the interpretation of the Emerson Quartet with David Shifrin, and hidden in the following pages of their search this peerless recording will be missed by the most of them, unfortunately nearly all of them. I won't say much about the Emerson Quartet's interpretations and I know that they will please many people; but I must say that for the most of the time they don't please me at all. Another record that you'll recognize will be the record of Yuri Bashmet (violist) with the Moscow Soloists, but this is a small chamber orchestra, not a string quartet; which makes this record not the interpretation that Brahms intended for, but of course could be an additional recording for the ones interested.

I had the chance to listen to Borodin Quartet (for the ones who may not know, not with its original members anymore) play the string quartet with a second viola version of this work by Yuri Bashmet. I was actually impressed by their interpretation (It must be remembered that Brahms himself suggested that the clarinet can be replaced by a second viola). But this recording is way different than anything.

The Borodin Quartet (the original members) not only play this piece (and of course also the Mozart) the way it sould be interpreted, but they also have the 'magic' that the most interpreters don't have. And Ivan Mozgovenko (clarinettist) has maybe the purest sound of clarinet. These five gentlemen made me feel that this record was alive and magical, a feeling that only very few recordings could make me feel. If you had the chance to drop by at this page, please be aware that there is a peerless work of art that may change your life."