This is the fourth release on ONYX from “Britain’s premier chamber ensemble” (The Times) and second in their ongoing Brahms series, a generous 74 minute coupling containing the G Minor and C Minor Piano Quartets. The Brahms String Sextet recording (ONYX4019) showed the world the quality of the current Nash ensemble, garnering rave reviews around the world, including a Gramophone Editor’s Choice “Gorgeous chamber music-making - urgently recommended” (Fanfare) “A red wine, red-meat disc from the must-have boutique label" (Independent on Sunday) This new recording is produced by the legendary Andrew Keener who will also produce the next title in the series, the String Quintets for ONYX in December and the remaining Piano Quartet coupled with the Clarinet Trio in 2009. The Nash Ensemble, having recently celebrated their 40th Anniversary, are having something of a golden period, and their previous ONYX discs of Turnage world premieres (ONYX4005) and Mendelssohn Piano Trios (ONYX4011) receiving rave reviews.
"These are terrific, clear-sighted yet impassioned performances of two compelling chamber works, given by a first-rate team of players. In the opening two movements of the G minor piano quartet, composed in 1861, there’s a beautiful control of pace and stress, the flavour slightly restrained, though there is certainly plenty of fire in the unrelenting, brilliant gypsy music of the exuberant finale. The C minor quartet, completed in 1874, speaks of darker matter, and was first thought of when Brahms was guiltily preoccupied with thoughts of Clara Schumann. This is an appositely fiery reading. " ****
Stephen Pettit
"Probably the best Brahms chamber disc I will hear all year" ****
Gary Lemco
"They achieve a true Brahmsian depth and tonal richness (arrestingly captured by engineer Phil Rowlands)...marries chamber-scale introspection with climaxes of awesome power and projeciton. Highly recommended."
