Brahms:
String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 18
String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36
Performed by Renaud Capuçon, Christoph Koncz (violins), Gérard Caussé, Marie Chilemme (violas) and Gautier Capuçon, Clemens Hagen (cellos)
In this recording, the Capucon brothers collaborate for a recording of two of the great pillars of Romantic chamber music – Brahms’ string sextets. At the peak of the musical powers, they both appear regularly throughout the world on all the major concert hall platforms.
Alongside their solo careers, performing chamber music with friends has always been an important part of their lives, and here they are joined by Austrian violinist Christoph Koncz, French violists Marie Chilemme and Gérard Caussé, and Austrian cellist Clemens Hagen. The album was recorded live at the Aix Easter Festival 2016.
While Brahms’ own voice as a composer can clearly be heard, outside influences from the great Classical era composers such as Schubert and Beethoven are also in evidence.
Here is the opening movement from Brahms’ sextet number one, Opus 18:
