Brahms: String Sextets, Opp. 18 & 36 / Theme and Variations for Piano

Johannes Brahms (Composer), Emanuel Ax (Performer), Isaac Stern (Performer), Cho-Liang Lin (Performer), Jaime Laredo (Performer), Michael Tree (Performer), Yo-Yo Ma (Performer), Sharon Robinson (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Emanuel Ax, Isaac Stern, Cho-Liang Lin, Jaime Laredo, Michael Tree, et al.
• Composer: Johannes Brahms
• Audio CD (June 16, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000026ZQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,723 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 18: 1. Allegro ma non troppo

2. String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 18: 2. Andante, ma moderato

3. String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 18: 3. Scherzo. Allegro molto - Trio. Animato

4. String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 18: 4. Rondo. Poco Allegretto e grazioso

Disc: 2

1. String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36: 1. Allegro non troppo

2. String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36: 2. Scherzo. Allegro non troppo - Trio. Presto giocoso

3. String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36: 3. Poco Adagio

4. String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36: 4. Poco Allegro

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, Beautiful Brahms, December 10, 2000

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brahms: String Sextets, Opp. 18 & 36 / Theme and Variations for Piano (Audio CD)

This two-disc set of the Brahms String Sextets brilliantly captures these beautiful chamber works. This digital recording from 1989 features the sextet of Yo-Yo Ma and Sharon Robinson on cellos, Isaac Stern and Cho-Liang Lin on violins, and Jaime Laredo and Michael Tree on violas. This Grammy-Winning CD helped to further popularize these chamber pieces, which were among the first of their genre when written in the 1860s. As Klaus Hafner states in his liner notes, "The self-assured, confident form of...[the] String Sextets...almost makes us forget that the composer was actually breaking new ground in chamber music...." And what makes this performance equally groundbreaking and remarkable is that the Ma/Stern/Laredo/etc group play with the same self-assurance and confidence. From the sublime opening measures of Op. 18, you know you are in for a treat. I have not heard other performances of these pieces, but I don't need to -- I can hardly imagine a better recording.

The only drawback to this title is that it is too short. The two Sextets combine for approximately 80 minutes, which is just barely too long for one CD. As a result, a 1991 recording of "Theme and Variations for Piano" (which is an arrangement of the second movement of the first string sextet) by Emanuel Ax is included. It is amazing how the variation for piano conveys a hopeful mood, while the second movement of the string piece has always struck me as maudlin. In any event, this piece is under eleven minutes long, so there is still plenty of room left over for other material to have been included. However, this is a minor shortcoming on what is overall an amazing album.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Brahms opp.18 & 36, July 13, 2011

By 

Paul S. Rottenberg "stevenrothbardt" (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brahms: String Sextets, Opp. 18 & 36 / Theme and Variations for Piano (Audio CD)

These are absolutely lovely and totally engaging performances of two of Brahms's most appealing works, full of melody and invention. The playing is technically excellent, with perfect ensemble, and a real feeling of the joy of performing among close friends in a perfect environment of give and take, which is the essence of chamber music, and what all great musicians always strive for. Either one of these works will make you smile even if you've had a really hard day, or at least will make it seem not so important. The cd by the Nash Ensemble might be a bit cheaper than this 2 cd set, but here, you also get Brahms's own arrangement for piano of the Gypsy variation movement from op. 18, well played by Manny Ax, which is a great filler. Good sound and general production, notes, etc.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars listen but don't stop here, December 6, 2002

By 

D. Jack Elliot (Omaha, Nebraska) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brahms: String Sextets, Opp. 18 & 36 / Theme and Variations for Piano (Audio CD)

These discs are quite satisfying; if the rating system here ranged from one to ten stars, I'd give them a seven. They belong in any collection of chamber music.

If you like these pieces, listen both to these readings and to those of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, on Chandos. Ma, Stern, and company give very American readings where the St. Martin ensemble's seem to me very British: the former being large, enthusiastic, robust, where the latter are more about understatement, balance, refinement. Both approaches work well, though I'd give the St. Martin disc eight stars to the seven here.