Johannes Brahms: String Quintet Op.88 live at SMKS Denmark

Johannes Brahms: String Quintet Op.88 Ernst Kovacic, Niels Chr.Øllgaard, Steven Dann, Michel Camille, Richard Lester at the 11th Esbjerg International Chamber Music Festival 2009 www.eicmf.dk EICMF is unique in Denmark as it invites artists to collaborate in new constellations, form new relationships, establish a foundation for exchange and annually act as a host for an international community of artists.

[@johnh5958]

Beautifully performed. I liked Brahms in my youth, but at age 55 I've learn to adore his music, and his quintets above all. There is music that I listen to while working or writing. This is music I just listen to and nothing else.

[@finnrowan5798]

i realize I'm kinda randomly asking but do anybody know of a good site to watch newly released series online?

[@jakealvin7049]

@Finn Rowan lately I have been using Flixzone. Just search on google for it :)

[@troyarmstrong434]

Eloquent. It reminds of a harmonically chaotic force. A force that can only come from nature and space/time. Utterly breathtaking at parts. Thank you

[@bennettmarkel7724]

Thanks. I was unfamiliar with this work. When you hear such new music by an old friend ( Brahms and I have been on great terms for 75 years now.), the old-new sound is mind-blowing.

[@prakaashgonella]

How amazing, how true! it really touches me emotionally and sparks off the intellect inside me to think that the ability of a fellow human can produce wonders so beautiful and so pure. Its almost as if the nature goddess herself descended upon the stage and delivered these beauteous pieces. It put a smile on the soul within me! It dances at such marvels in escalation of joy. I kid you not!

[@notaire2]

Very clear and well-articulated performance of this work. Simply beautiful!

[@Rx-mn5fv]

For me, this performance is as well done as the performance I have by the Boston Symphony Chamber Players. The bonus is that I see this music being created. Thank you for the video.

[@gerardbegni2806]

This quintet is less known than the second one op. 111, but it is indeed beautiful and extremely well written. It would deserve to be played more often. The five instrumentists are excellent and have the sense of chamber music. Their interpretation is excellent.

[@onceltom]

Excellent balance and modulation. A rare performance.

[@notaire2]

Sehr klare und artikulierte Aufführung dieses Werkes. Einfach wunderschön!

[@TheJamesalden]

Oh Brahms...and thanks much for posting this... Thank you!...

[@carlorodrigues1600]

A wonderful concert!

[@femsu2008]

Dann, Camille, and Lester are wonderful together. two years later same festival they performed beethoven's opus 29 a must listen.

[@Averros8000]

Thanks Michael for uploading this! It's very kind of you!

[@knd1940]

. 1) 00:00 2) 11:40 3) 23:30 Thank you for a very fine performance. Except for his concertos this quintet is unique in Brahms works, I believe, in having only three movements. However, the slow third movement is interspersed with scherzo-like sections, so it's as if Brahms decided to combine the second and third movements into one.

[@megganfortescue5727]

Inspirational. Brilliant taster for Esbjerg Festival Week.

[@DornGeorg]

00:04 1. Allegro non troppo ma con brio 11:50 2. Grave ed appassionato - Allegretto vivace - Tempo I - Presto - Tempo I 23:47 3. Allegro energico - Presto

[@user-ci9oe8gj1m]

ㅡㄱ3ㅜ😅ㆍ😮

[@tietjen666]

Fantastic performance! Gripping!

[@moret1957]

Toda la poesia de Bramhs!!!

[@dugitomi]

outstanding performance and magnificent editing of the video. the performance begins immediately and then a modest amount of applause at the end. i can't figure out why some people are compelled to include 27 seconds of applause at the beginning of a live performance and then 38 seconds of applause at the end of a performance. do they wish to inform listeners that a great performer will be playing? do they wish to telegraph to listeners that a great work has been performed? explanations welcome.

[@debwagner7505]

tom d There are people who want to re-live (or experience vicariously) the experience of being in the audience.

[@ckalliontzis]

Excellent remarks by all the preceeding commentators. By carefully observing the video I presume that Mr.Camille plays the viola. In my commentary I will concentrate on some further details of the work. Brahms [1833-1897] wrote 2 string quintets op.88 in F and op.111 in G. The first string quintet, which is set in 3 movements instead of the traditional 4, was initially performed in Frankfurt in December 29, 1882.

[@urmorph]

+Constantine Kalliontzis 3 movements? Well, technically, yes. But Brahms actually combines the two middle movements, alternating slow and fast-- a really quite clever, and successful, innovation.

[@violinoamore]

I don't know why but it tends to sound a bit out tune at some places ...

[@TheJamesalden]

Such a wonderful ensemble, Michel...which instrument do you play, that is...unless someone has already asked?...

[@frankstein9982]

+james alden the 2nd viola, second from right

[@anthonylu1910]

Third movement at 23:05

[@tappetovolanteviaggi8808]

actually not much movement, until 23:47

[@charlesgunsaullus4692]

Overall good performance. But no "sul G" for the opening melody on violin? Tsk.

[@debwagner7505]

That's violin player stuff --not music stuff.

[@anthonylu1910]

Second movement starts at 11:22

[@takakokosaka8072]

ブラームス 五重総 3

[@kecenqian7169]

A fugal finale invites comparison with Beethoven's C Major quartet....and Brahms comes off second best here.

[@user-rp7pe1eo7h]

Yes, Beethoven also started his fugue with viola, followed by violin.

[@raymondgood6555]

Not so sure about that

[@mccmusicus]

raymondgood's uncertainty over kecenqian's comment is well-founded. Brahms would doubtless have cheerfully acknowledged that Beethoven's op.59 #3 was indeed his model here, having made a piano transcription (now lost) of its fugal Finale movement: using models (as was frequent practice among composers before the shibboleth of novelty took hold in the C20th) in no way implies the sort of competitiveness suggested by the comment about anyone 'coming off second best'. Brahms' particular and personal achievement in his finale here is to combine the essential elements of fugue simultaneously with the elements of sonata form such that both are clearly recognizable most of the time - and, most importantly of all, to make good music of it all. For example, whilst changing key to introduce a '2nd subject' [the one which breaks out in triplet crotchets], the opening theme that is treated fugally continues here woven into the texture, much as one might expect in a straight fugue. Interestingly, as my late colleague Malcolm MacDonald points out in his 'The Master Musicians- Brahms' [p.287], Brahms' friend Heinrich von Herzogenberg used the same sort of idea in his own String Trio in F which he had sent to Brahms shortly before Brahms wrote this...

[@bianchiviolin]

Enjoyed it but there were no real dark chocolat Brahms moments.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

So, Brahms is a candy bar now...(WTF?)

[@Frankly7]

Actually, that comparison makes a lot of sense in a weird way.

[@kecenqian7169]

hey yes...Brahms IS like dark chocolate!! :)

[@user-lb2ed9um9x]

@@kecenqian7169 sometimes there are sugary moments, listen to op.34!

[@rufocermoles8062]

Los rasca cuerdas desafinando. Qué raro.

[@pamelacoate3951]

C

[@robbiestanley-smith6414]

Disappointingly scrappy and some shocking intonation in parts - seems like Kovacic at least should stick to teaching in his old age.. Must have been frustrating for Lester knowing what he's capable of.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

"Those that CAN, do; those that CAN'T, criticize..."