Brahms Complete Chamber Music for Clarinet – Hans Christian Bræin

Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Quintet, op. 115 · Clarinet Trio, op. 114 · Clarinet Sonatas, op. 120 nos. 1 andmore… 2

Hans Christian Bræin, clarinet · Håvard Gimse, piano · Bjørg Værnes Lewis, cello

The purest manifestations of Brahms’s musical genius within chamber music.

kr 199

Brahms embraces the clarinet

This is Brahms-playing of significance, with Norway’s foremost clarinettist Hans Christian Bræin as soloist. His tone and phrasing is legendary, and at last it is available on CD, an experience that has only been possible in concerts until now. A rare musician performing what he loves the most.

Only late in life did Brahms become aware of the qualities of the clarinet. There was one particular performer, as is often the case, who was the inspiration. And the quality of Richard Mühlfeld’s playing must have been really exceptional. Not only did he move the composer to pick up his pen again, after having halted his compositional activities: the four works he did write are among the best written for the instrument. And they are the purest manifestations of Brahms’s musical genius within chamber music.

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This is Brahms-playing of significance, with Norway’s foremost clarinettist Hans Christian Bræin as soloist. His tone and phrasing is legendary, and at last it is available on CD, an experience that has only been possible in concerts until now. A rare musician performing what he loves the most.

A long career

Son of the Norwegian composer Edvard Flifret Bræin, Hans Christian was solo clarinet player with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra for two periods in the 1970s and -90s. For ten years in the 80s he was a member of the Danish Esbjerg Music Ensemble. He is a treasured guest at such festivals as Risør, Bergen and Stavanger, captivating the audience with this rich and sensuous tone. At present Bræin holds the position of Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music, and is a permanent member of the Cikada Ensemble.

The ensemble

The profound care with which Bræin shapes his music is also reflected in the exquisite group of musicians he has brought along for this CD. The two sonatas are performed together with the pianist Håvard Gimse, and they are joined by cellist Bjørg Værnes Lewis for the trio. Violinist Atle Sponberg leads the fantastic clarinet quintet, and together these musicians achieve Brahms playing characterized by warmth and spirit.

Anne Britt Sævig Årdal |Atle Sponberg |Bjørg Værnes Lewis |Hans Christian Bræin |Håvard Gimse |Johannes Brahms |Jørn Pedersen |Nora Taksdal Viken |Per Kristian Skalstad

Release date:

EAN : 7033662012596

Cat.No.: PSC1259

Priskategori : CD