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Label:
  Opus 3 - http://www.opus3records.com/
Serial:
  SACD 22021
Title:
  Brahms: Clarinet Trio & Quintet - Kjell Fagéus
Description:
  Brahms: Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114, Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115

Kjell Fagéus (clarinet)
Mats Lidström (cello)
Bengt Forsberg (piano)
Talekvartten:
Patrick Swedrup (violin)
Anders Nyman (violin)
Ingegerd Kirkegaard (viola)
Helena Nilsson (cello)
Track listing:
 
Genre:
  Classical - Chamber
Content:
  Stereo/Multichannel
Media:
  Hybrid
Recording type:
  DSD
Recording info:
 

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Reviews: 2

Review by jmvilleneuve March 4, 2005 (5 of 6 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
OK First I own about >15 recordings of the Brahms Quintet including 7 by Karl Leister (my favorite is the one on the Japanese Camerata label). I have played both the trio/quintet in concerts (albeit a long time ago!) And I am not a frustrated ex-musician.

I really do not like the way Mr Fageus plays the clarinet. Of course because it is my instrument and there are different schools on how a clarinet should be played, part of my dislike may not be meaningful for non-clarinet players. But independently of taste there are some absolute criteria like playing all the notes, playing in pitch and attacking notes correctly. There are gross playing errors in both Quintet and trio (the Quintet was live, but not the trio).

On the other hand the cellist playing in the trio is really good, so cello players may still be interested. In the trio, the piano sound take is really weak (I do understand that the piano role is subdued in the trio, but there is some limit!)

The recording of the Quintet is a bit flat with a lack of depth and separation between the instrument. This is such a nice piece that even with sub-par clarinet playing there is a lot of good passages. In particular there is a good dynamic range, and some of the softer passage are really coming out well.

But there are other passages where the clarinetist plays so badly (for instance in the loundest passages of the second mouvement, the sounds of the clarinet distort and becomes really ugly) that it completely throws out the listener.

After 3 audtions of this recording, I am afraid it will gather dust in my collection.

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Review by SnaggS June 19, 2007 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
Sonics:  
I don't understand the review above, this is one of the SACD's which have stood the test of time. It was a punt when I bought it, I wasn't familiar with the music, but I love the warm relaxing sonics which compliments the beutiful music.

I'll assume others no better than me technically, so wont rate the performance, but after 4 years, this SACD keeps coming off the shelf and I love it. Maybe someone else with more authority can add another review?

Daniel.

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Works: 2  

Johannes Brahms - Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115
Johannes Brahms - Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114