Brahms: The Hungarian Connection
- With Andreas Ottensamer, Clarinet.
The album includes Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet, one of the most seminal works for the instrument, combined with Hungarian dances and waltzes by Brahms, all newly arranged to include additional material from Brahms’ original musical sources.
Brahms is seen as one of the most serious composers of the German school; yet this recording reveals how closely connected his music actually is to the vibrant folk music of the world.
We get to enjoy the following selections:
Brahms:
- Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115
- Hungarian Dance No. 7
- Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G minor
- Brahms/Borzó (Isteni Csárdás). Arranged by Stephan Koncz
- Ein kleiner, hübscher Vogel nahm den Flug, Op. 52, No. 6
- trad.: Dances From Transylvania
Weiner, Leó:
- Busulo Juhasz (Woeful Shepherd)
- Csurdongolo (Barn Dance)
Performed by Andreas Ottensamer (clarinet), Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Antoine Tamestit (viola), Christoph and Stephan Koncz (violin, cello), Ödon Rácz (double bass), Predrag Tomic (accordion) & Oskar Ökrös (cimbalom)
Andreas Ottensamer, himself half-Hungarian, naturally recognizes Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet as “genuinely one of the monuments of the entire clarinet repertoire, a piece that every clarinetist dreams of playing”.
“On this CD, Ottensamer demonstrates his warm, rich Viennese sound. It quickly becomes clear how directly he communicates with the musicians of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. He is not just a musician who wants to play in the foreground all the time, but rather one who searches for dialogue.” —Tages Anzeiger (Switzerland)
Here is a 2-minute highlight from this recording:
And here is Mr. Ottensamer the first of Schumann’s ‘Three Romances’. What amazing, romantic music!
Tags: Johannes Brahms, Andreas Ottensamer, clarinet, Leonidas Kavakos, Antoine Tamestit
