This Grammy winning double album of the Brahms String Sextets brilliantly captures these beautiful chamber works. This digital recording from 1989 features the sextet of Yo-Yo Ma and Sharon Robinson on cellos, Isaac Stern and Cho-Liang Lin on violins, and Jaime Laredo and Michael Tree on violas. And what makes this performance equally groundbreaking and remarkable is that this sextet play with a magical self-assurance and confidence. From the sublime opening measures of Op. 18, you are in for a treat. As a bonus a 1991 recording of “Theme and Variations for Piano” (which is an arrangement of the second movement of the first string sextet) by Emanuel Ax is included.
CD 1 String Sextet in B-flat major, Op. 18
1. I. Allegro ma non trop 15:27
2. II. Andante, ma moderato 9:44
3. III. Scherzo. Allegro molto – Trio. Animato 3:02
4. IV. Rondo. Poco Allegretto e grazioso 10:02 Theme and Variations for Piano
5. Andante, ma moderato 10:45
CD 2 String Sextet in G major, Op. 36
1. I. Allegro non troppo 1 14:33
2. II. Scherzo. Allegro non troppo- 7:32
Trio. Presto giocoso
3. III. Poco Adagio 10:47
4. IV. Poco Allegro 8:08
