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Brahms's String Sextet No.1 in Building a Library with Tasmin Little and Andrew McGregor

Conductor Ben Gernon assesses a new box set of live recordings by Herbert von Karajan, and violinist Tasmin Little picks her favourite recording of Brahms's String Sextet No.1

Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.

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Conductor Ben Gernon assesses a new box set of live recordings of Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic.

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Building a Library
Violinist Tasmin Little chooses her favourite recording of Brahms's String Sextet No. 1 in B flat, Op. 18 from the many available versions.

Virtuoso violinist Joseph Joachim led the ensemble that premiered Brahms's String Quartet No. 1 in October 1860. Brahms was 27 by the time he came to write his first Sextet. He clearly enjoyed the challenge, revelling in the unusually rich sonorities at his disposal. The Sextet also features significant use of Brahms's trademark ‘across the bar’ phrases of irregular length, employed here with maturity and delightfully telling effect.

First choice:
Nash Ensemble
ONYX ONYX4019

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Record of the Week: Andrew’s top pick.

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1 hour, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Waltz in A minor [Morgan Library & Museum MS]

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion.
  • Ferdinand Poise

    La Surprise de l'amour, Act II: Chacun connaît de Colombine

    Lyricist: Marivaux. Singer: Eva Zaïcik. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lille. Conductor: Pierre Dumoussaud.
    • Rebelle.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 1.
  • Sir Stephen Hough

    Hough: Piano Concerto 'The World of Yesterday' II. Waltz Variations

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
    • Hough: Piano Concerto, Sonatina & Partita.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.
  • Sir Stephen Hough

    Piano Concerto 'The World of Yesterday' (Tarantella appassionata)

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
    • Hough: Piano Concerto, Sonatina & Partita.
    • Hyperion.
    • 3.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Symphony no.5 in B flat major Op.100 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • Berliner philharmoniker.
  • Claude Debussy

    Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • berliner philharmoniker.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No. 9 in C "Great" (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • berliner philharmoniker.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 3 in E flat "Eroica" (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • Berliner Philharmoniker.
  • Claude Debussy

    12 Études, L. 136: I. Pour les cinq doigts - d'après Monsieur Czerny

    Performer: George Fu.
    • Colouring Book.
    • Platoon.
    • 101.
  • Robert Fokkens

    Dawn Chants on the Umfolozi

    Ensemble: Karolos.
    • First Hand Records.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Domine Deus (Mass in B minor)

    Singer: Julie Roset. Singer: Emiliano Gonzalez‐Toro. Ensemble: Pygmalion. Conductor: Raphaël Pichon.
    • J. S. Bach: Mass in B Minor, BWV 232.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 108.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Simon Boccanegra (Act 3 Scene 5)

    Singer: Germán E. Alcántara. Singer: William Thomas. Choir: Chorus of Opera North. Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.
    • Opera Rara.

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  • Sat 12 Apr 2025 14:00

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