Brahms: The Complete Piano Trios, Clarinet Trio & Horn Trio

Here are all of Brahms's Trios assembled on two CDs.

The three Piano Trios date from the extremes of the composer's life—Opus 8 from 1853/4 when he was about twenty years old (though here performed in its revised version of 1889), and Opus 101 from 1886, written when he was fifty-three. The Clarinet Trio was one of his very last works, written for the clarinettist who also inspired the Clarinet Quintet and the two Opus 120 Sonatas, Richard Mühlfeld. The marvellous Horn Trio is a middle-period work, composed when the composer was in his early thirties.

The five works are presented chronologically on the two discs. All are immaculately played by this most exciting young British ensemble whose first two CDs for Hyperion have drawn superlatives from critics worldwide: 'This is a wonderful disc. Another jewel in the heavily-studded Hyperion crown. A richly rewarding treat' (Classic CD on Dvořák Trios, CDA66895).

CDA67251/2 136 minutes 50 seconds (2 discs)

GRAMOPHONE CRITICS' CHOICE

‘These are very desirable recordings … enriching performances that make one aware of Brahms's stature first and the superb musicianship of the executants second—which is exactly as it should be!’ ...
‘A clear first recommendation for any of the five works. I find these fully the equal of any other versions of any of the trios in the catalogs, whether by present-day or 'golden age' performers. Wond ...