Piano Quartet No 2 in A major, Op 26 (Brahms)
from Brahms: Piano Quartets (CDA67471/2)
1 Allegro non troppo [16'25]
2 Poco adagio [12'28]
3 Scherzo: Poco allegro – Trio [11'04]
4 Finale: Allegro [10'10]
50 minutes 7 seconds 4 tracks
‘The G minor Quartet (No 1) opens simply, with Hamelin shaping the line beautifully but unaffectedly, the Leopold players gradually entering, their playing filled with ardour. The Zigeuner-finale is i ...
‘The Scherzo of the C minor Piano Quartet (No 3) is dispatched with dazzling brilliance yet never sacrifices the music's underlying sense of stress and anxiety. Even more stunning is Hamelin's fingerw ...
‘Hamelin can produce an authentically chunky Brahmsian sound when requried. But his liquid beauty and delicacy of touch ensure that the strings are never overwhelmed. There is vigour and passion aplen ...