Mozart / Brahms: Clarinet Quintets

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Artist), David Shifrin (Artist), Eugene Drucker (Artist), Emerson String Quartet (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 11, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B00000IX73
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #54,325 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

The Emersons and clarinetist Shifrin emphasize smoothness of line and a creamy blend of sound in this polished 1997 performance of the Mozart quintet. Tempos are ideal, giving Mozart's luxurious, long-breathed yet fragile melodies plenty of time to unfold without sacrificing animation or expressive point. Understatement rules in this interpretation, which is all the more intense and poignant because of it. The coupling is a rich, ripe, romantic account of the Brahms quintet, conveyed with passionate address and in a manner more conversational and polyphonic, less homogeneous in sound, than most. It is a dramatic and eventful reading, but one in which lyricism and beauty of tone are never sacrificed. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shifrin is spectacular!, March 13, 2000

By	Brandon Hood (Memphis) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD is one of the better recordings of the Mozart and Brahms Clarinet Quintets that I have heard. Shifrin is one of the most amazing clarinetists of our time today. He combines clarity of sound with true artistic ability. His interpretation of the Brahms is second to none. To have this great of a performer combined with the Emerson String Quartet is the making of an excellent recording that I highly recommend. You will treasure this recording for years to come!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Spectacular, February 27, 2002

By A Customer

Emerson and Shifrin make these two already perfect pieces even more spectacular than they already are. Emerson's sound is so rich and lush which lends a spectacular quality to quintets. They really get the ideal Mozartian and Bramsian qualities across in their playing. The music is subtle in it's qualities and the quintet emphasizes this. David Shifrin is flawless in his playing. He gets a rich dark sound and interprets the music perfectly. He and Emerson are a great match....they understood these two pieces and brought them out in their performance. It is just excellent all around!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding ensemble performance., January 18, 2008

By	Raymond L. Clithero "Ray the clarinetist" (Longview, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Shifrin and the Emerson Quartet demonstrated an outstanding artistic interpretation of both the Mozart and Brahms quintets. The ensemble performance is unified and expressive. The technical quality of the recording also is excellent. After hearing the CD, I purchased a copy for each member of my own quintet. Highest compliments are due to these players.