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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0028947764588 Label: Deutsche Grammophon Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon Number Of Discs: 2 Publisher: Deutsche Grammophon Release Date: May 08, 2007 Studio: Deutsche Grammophon Sales Rank: 93517 MPN: 000871802
Amazon.com: This handsome set of Brahms's chamber music features the stunning Emerson Quartet, and in the Piano Quintet, the pianist Leon Fleischer, happily recovered from a very lengthy crippling illness. The Quintet is singingly, lyrically played, with Brahms's long melodies the focal point. It's a beautiful performance, with the Emerson seemingly listening to and following Fleischer. The Quartets are performed with lush tone, with the Op. 51, no. 2, sounding particularly intense, with each dynamic change pointedly underlined. Op. 51's second movement (Romanze) makes the listener wish Brahms had set a text to the music -- it is played with exquisite lyricism. The B-flat major Quartet is vibrant, with the final movement's variations, colored by the viola, so clearly played that one can hear the echoes of the Quartet's first movement. A fine pair of CDs. --Robert Levine
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Note about the track information
I bought this 2-CD set. Like many people, I seldom play the actual cds any more, but rip them to my media player. The cover jpg and album info is downloaded. I couldn't figure out why the 2nd CD didn't ... Read More
Rating: - Dynamic Duo #2
I loved all of Fleisher's recordings with George Szell in the 50's and early 60's before he became afflicted with dystonia. In particular, the Beethoven concertos (still the best stereo cycle of those works), ... Read More
Rating: - Too good
The quartets are played at the height of virtuosity. However, like Heifetz, the perfection can leave one a bit chilly. The passion tends to be lost in the execution. Tempos are just too fast. That being said, ... Read More
Rating: - Decent performance by the Emerson Quartet...................
The performances on this disc are not what I have a problem with. I actually would have given this disc at least 4 stars out of 5 if it weren't for the terrible job the audio engineer did when putting the recording ... Read More
Rating: - Brahms' Bonus Bargan...
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What can one say?--for the price of a pack of cigarettes (nearly!), you can now obtain what are probably the finest Brahms' string quartet realizations available.
I find it strange that Brahms' string ... Read More