String quintets

"The Quintets are richly scored and rank amongst the composer's finest chamber works ... These performances benefit from clear, rich sounding sonics. For those seeking a recording of the two Quintets played with conviction and authority, this release from Audite neatly fits the bill. I look forward eagerly to their recording of the two Sextets, which I gather is in the pipeline".

Læs anmeldelse

"Brahms wrote these works at the height of his powers in 1882 and 1890 ... The fact that these players work together in the fine WDR orchestra has probably done much to give a seamless quality to their ensemble, yet there is not a hint of restraint and the power and lyricism of Brahms String Quintets is given full expression ... I would judge this disc to be a necessary purchase for all lovers of late-romantic chamber music".

Læs anmeldelse

"The performance by the Hungarian-American Takács Quartet, whose Brahms performances have been uniquely well thought out and executed, strike a balance between the Viennese lyricism of the thematic material and its mind-boggling development. With the participation of violist Lawrence Power, these are performances of great clarity and at the same time great warmth, all rendered in sterling detail by Hyperion's team of engineers at Britain's Wyastone Estate. An exceptional Brahms recording".

Læs anmeldelse

"The Nash Ensemble are nothing less than the London regiment of chamber music's crack troops ... Both discs present joyful, compelling music in its best light; the Nash are recorded with a touch more immediacy".

"Vurdering: Diapason d'or".

"Whatever the WDR Chamber Players' tone may lack in grit is made up for in warmth and clarity ... The WDR musicians play with generous legato yet dig into the phrases in a way that draws one just as effectively into the music's rich texture ... The central Grave ed appassionato is unusually introspective, convincingly trading full-throated threnody for delicate wistfulness".