Brahms

‘I was walking along one morning,’ Brahms said. ‘And as I came to this spot the sun shone out and with it this theme.’

Brahms was uncharacteristically pleased with the trio, writing to his publisher, “You have not yet had such a beautiful trio from me and very likely have not published its equal in the last ten years.”

The Quintet is suffused with what Edward Said, discussing late style in general, described as a ‘mature subjectivity, stripped of hubris and pomposity, unashamed either of its fallibility or of the modest assurance it has gained as a result of age,’ writes Gordon Kerry.

“Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet is one of the reasons I became a musician…lyrical, dramatic, melancholy, formally disciplined while at the same time full of Viennese elegance and Hungarian passion – it’s just one of my favourite pieces in the whole world.”

“At times it has seemed impossible to keep this mixtape under two hours…I’ve settled on a playlist of recordings that have, at one point or another, had a profound impact on my development as a musician and of which I can’t help but smile (or cry) when I listen to them.”

CHAMBER CLASSICS ONE: FORGOTTEN ROMANCE Sunday 14 February 2021, 2pm AND 4.30pm, Albert Hall CSO…

“The pieces I’ve chosen are all a bit unusual or adventurous. They’re designed to take you on a journey, from the ferocious to the serene – ending in some fun.” – Dianna Gaetjens, Principal Horn

“Everyone has those moments that seem to freeze time, all-consuming moments of our lives that live like YouTube links in our minds. We are shaped by them, stories told time and time again. They never change, preserved for life by the emotional print they forged in us.” – Doreen Cumming, CSO Principal Second Violin

Dr Nicholas Milton AM: “For my CSO Mixtape, my colleagues in the artistic management team of the CSO suggested I could put together a selection of recordings in which I was directly involved. I was happy to find on Spotify a few recordings which brought back some wonderful memories.”

“Grab your favourite choice of beverage, gaze at a beautiful view and enjoy this eclectic playlist of music worth exploring.” – Freyja Meany, CSO Viola