Brahms, Johannes - Quintets, Op. 34 & 111 - Pavel Haas Quarte

Their recording of the American Quartet and String Quartet No. 13, Op. 106 (Gramophone Award – Recording of the Year) elevated the Pavel Haas Quartet to the ranks of the finest performers of Antonín Dvorák's music. This position was later reinforced by a recording of the composer's quintets, made in collaboration with the ensemble's founding member, violist Pavel Niklin, and Queen Elisabeth Competition winner, pianist Boris Giltburg. The album received the most coveted classical music awards (Gramophone Chamber Award, BBC Radio 3 Record Review Discs of the Year, Diapason d'Or, etc.). During the recording of the Dvorák quintets, the logical idea of a Brahms album was born. And now it has come to fruition. Dvorák was encouraged and ultimately achieved worldwide fame thanks to the kind support and friendship of his older colleague Brahms, whom Clara and Robert Schumann had helped just as generously in their twenties. The relationship between Brahms and Clara is probably also behind the Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34. Originally conceived as a string quintet in the spring of 1864, he transformed it into a sonata for two pianos, but Clara also expressed doubts about the sound of this version. The desired contrast and richness of color were finally achieved by combining strings and piano. Clara Schumann performed the piano part at the private premiere of the quintet, describing it as "symphonic."