Brahms: Trio for Horn, Violin & Piano, Op. 40; Clarinet Sonatas

Dieter Klöcker (Performer), Johannes Brahms (Composer), Peter Damm (Performer), Werner Genuit (Performer), Josef Suk (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Dieter Klöcker, Peter Damm, Werner Genuit, Josef Suk
• Composer: Johannes Brahms
• Audio CD (January 27, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arts Music
• ASIN: B000005AR7
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #427,780 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
These are some good musicians, but unfortunately they haven't made a very good recording. The excellent horn player and violinist, both renowned from many fine recordings, play up to their usual standard in the trio. But neither the pianist nor the sound quality is up to the same level. Werner Genuit's playing is earthbound and the piano sounds downright unpleasant in this odd recording. Dieter Klöcker, also well known as leader of the chamber ensemble Consortium Classicum, doesn't play with enough personality to carry his musically demanding part, and in combination with Genuit the music just doesn't come to life. Sorry! --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Big Disappointment, May 26, 2005

By	Donald G. Hite III "clarinetist extraordinaire!" (Houston, Tx USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a big fan of Klocker's playing. I have many of his recordings, and I've always really liked his style and sound. This recording, however, doesn't really make it for me.

The Brahms is technically good, but Klocker's playing sounds bored and entirely uninspired. His interpretation is completely unexpressive. All I can figure is that with pieces as widely studied and performed as the Brahms Clarinet Sonatas, some performers just fall into the "here we go again" style of playing, rather than playing the pieces with the excitement and freshness they deserve. This is all I can figure, considering that Klocker is usually dead on in my opinion...

The Trio doesn't really appeal to me either. My main complaint is that the last movement is taken too slow in my opinion. Additionally, the horn player uses a distracting amount of vibrato. I personally do not like when horns play with vibrato, although i'm told this is the convention in Europe. If you want a quality recording of this trio, look for the Perlman/Tuckwell version.

If you're at all familiar with these pieces, I wouldn't really recommend this CD. It will probably just annoy you.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Immaculate technique, unequaled musicality! , September 21, 2005

By	Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

These unerring recordings are absolutely essential in your collection. The trio for Horn, Violin and piano Op. 40 reveal to Brahms as major composer. Filled with nuance and wonderful expressiveness, the warm hues of this fabulous ensemble surround this chamber work of particular brightness and enviable singularity.

Both sonatas for Clarinet are major works that would precede to his grand quintet for clarinet one of my most beloved pages. Dieter Clocker, clarinet was the founder and musical director of the famous Consortium Classicum. Winner of several gramophone recordings with a wide recorded repertoire.
Nevertheless, the First of the Sonatas is better achieved than the second one, which lacks of breath and brio, pitifully.

Outstanding phrasing and superb inspiration, joined with Werner Genuit, who studied with Hans Richter Haaser and notable interpreter.

This happy encounter of three great chamber works of the Glory of Hamburg, make of this CD a very advisable acquiring. I got it in 1992 and since then I use to listen with accustomed regularity.

So I recommend you it with closed eyes.