Brahms: Clarinet Quintet, Op. 115; Mozart: String Quartets K. 499, K. 575

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) composed his Clarinet Quintet Op. 115 in B-Minor after telling his publisher he was retiring from composition. Then, he renewed acquaintance with clarinetist R. Mühlfeld and was inspired by Mühlfeld’s artistry to resume composing. The Quintet is cyclic: musical material from the 1st mvmt returns, usually transformed, in later mvmts, with the Finale including a formal set of variations. Passions, pictures of pleasures and sorrows past, of longing and hope are expressed in multicolor, often melancholy tones. Mozart’s (1756-1791) String Quartet in D-Major K. 499 opens joyfully, has a passionate, ornate Menuetto foreshadowing Romantic style, an opulent, almost operatic Adagio and a witty finale, drawing its jocular spirit from Haydn, Mozart’s teacher. The String Quartet in D-Major K. 575 (1789) is “among Mozart’s most happily serene composition [G. Lemco],” but has moments of melancholy in the Andante. Cloudless and trouble-free, it was written with hopes it would ingratiate Mozart into the Prussian court. “The brilliant Allegretto finale is all Mozart cleverness and invention [G. Lemco].” The Stuyvesant String Quartet, including brothers Alan and Sylvan Shulman, gives magnificent, heartfelt and convivial performances of these works.

Brahms: Clarinet Quintet in B-Minor, Op. 115. 1. Allegro 8:58.
Brahms: Op. 115. 2. Adagio 11:20.
Brahms: Op. 115. 3. Andantino: Presto non assai, ma con sentimento 4:15.
Brahms: 4. Con moto 8:08.
Mozart: String Quartet in D-Major, K. 499. 1. Allegretto 6:20.
Mozart: K. 499. 2. Menuetto: Allegretto – Trio 3:04.
Mozart: K. 499. 3. Adagio 8:44.
Mozart: K. 499. 4. Molto allegro 6:17.
Mozart: String Quartet in D-Major, K. 575. 1. Allegretto 7:16.
Mozart: K. 575. 2. Andante 4:43.
Mozart: K. 575. 3. Menuetto: Allegretto – Trio. 5:15.
Mozart: K. 575. 4. Allegretto 5:26.