Brahms: String Quartets / The Nash Ensemble

The Nash Ensemble: Marianne Thorsen (violin 1), Malin Broman (violin 2), Lawrence Power (viola 1), Paul Watkins (cello 1) & Philip Dukes (viola 2)

String Quintet No.1 in F op.88 String Quintet No. 2 in G, op. 111

•A new addition to the critically acclaimed Nash series on ONYX “Britain’s premier chamber ensemble” (The Times) •The String Quintets are two of Brahms’ greatest chamber works. The op88 was a favourite of the composer, and he wrote to his publisher that ‘you’ll never receive anything more beautiful from me’. Strangely it has been slow to find affection with the public, which is shame as it contains some of the composers most exploratory and personal music - the second movement especially so. The late op111 was written when Brahms had all but retired. He’d attempted a 5th and a 6th symphony, but felt he had little more to say, and it was all more difficult to put on paper. When he delivered the work to the publisher he wrote ‘with this note you can take leave of my music, because it is high time to stop’. •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.

Price: $21.98