Brahms : Double Concerto & Clarinet Quintet

Renaud Capuçon, Gautier Capuçon, Myung-Whun Chung, Paul Meyer – 2007

Violinist Renaud Capuçon and his cellist brother Gautier have already released chamber works by Brahms on Virgin Classics: Renaud collaborated with Nicholas Angelich for the violin sonatas and Gautier joined them for the piano trios. Their plan to record all Brahms’ solo and chamber repertoire for violin and cello advances with this coupling of the Double Concerto and Clarinet Quintet, two of Brahms’ most warm-hearted works.

Gramophone praised the Capuçons’ version of the piano trios as ‘sure to kindle anyone’s enthusiasm for Brahms. Warm, beautifully balanced tone stresses the composer’s romantic side, as does the expansive phrasing. There’s a feeling of spontaneity, too, as though each player is discovering new aspects to the music while recording it (…) The way they are able to strike a balance between Brahms’s energetic flow of ideas, his strongly delineated structures and his lyrical intensity is most satisfying.’

Double Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra in A minor, Op. 102
01 / Allegro    18:05
02 / Andante    7:48
03 / Vivace non troppo    8:32

Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115
04 / Allegro    12:41
05 / Adagio    11:05
06 / Andantino • Presto non assai, ma con sentimento    4:37
07 / Con moto • Un poco meno mosso    8:47