Sharon Kam

Brahms's implacable self-criticism was at its height in the domain of chamber music: he was already 40 when he produced this Second String Quartet (of three) after two decades of rejected attempts, which only makes its formal perfection and intense lyricism all the more striking. In the case of the Quintet Op.115, it was a meeting with the clarinettist Mühlfeld that inspired him to emerge from his self-imposed retirement to compose this almost unbearably nostalgic musical testament, five years before his death.

The Jerusalem Quartet was founded in 1993, and from 1999 to 2001 were BBC New Generation Artists; in 2003 it was the recipient of the first Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, currrently celebrating its tenth anniversary year. Now regular guests in the world’s leading concert halls, notably in the United States, the Jerusalems perform with such artists as Alexander Melnikov, Lawrence Power and Sharon Kam.

The quartet’s discography on harmonia mundi has won many international awards. Its interpretation of Schubert’s ‘Death and the Maiden’ Quartet won a Diapason d’Or of the Year in 2008 and an ECHO Klassik award in 2009, while its most recent release, Schumann’s Piano Quintet and Quartet, received distinctions from BBC Music Magazine, Scherzo and Télérama. The Quartet is very grateful to Daniel Barenboim who generously loans Jacqueline du Pré's ‘Sergio Perresson’ cello to Kyril Zlotnikov.

After her debut with the Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta at the age of 16, Sharon Kam was encouraged and mentored by Isaac Stern. She later graduated from the Juilliard School of Music, where she studied with Charles Neidich. Sharon Kam regularly collaborates with such colleagues as Heinrich Schiff, Christian Tetzlaff, Antje Weithaas, and Tabea Zimmermann. She often plays recitals with the pianist Lars Vogt and is a regular guest at his Spannungen festival in Heimbach, Germany, as well as other festivals like Verbier, Risør, Cork and Delft.

Sharon Kam is possibly one of the world’s great clarinetists. On this CD, presented as a profile of her outstanding musicianship, she is joined by Lars Vogt, Antje Weithaas and Gustav Rivinius, in pieces by Hindemith, Poulenc and Debussy.

All of these works have been newly commissioned.

The outstanding clarinetist Sharon Kam performs Eröd’s Clarinet Concerto.

Muthspiel’s concerto is for violin, percussion and orchestra.

Winner of the prestigious ARD Competition in 1992, Sharon Kam was discovered and invited to Leipzig by Kurt Masur. Described by Time Out New York as having “generous lines” and creating “gracious phrasing and purity of timbre”, she is joined on this recording by other eminent musicians such as Gustav Rivinius.

On her clarinet, Sharon Kam expresses something for which there are no words. At one with her instrument, she thrills in this compilation with a virtuosic suppleness and sensitive cantabile in a class of its own. A firework display of vivacity and emotion. This reissue includes works by Weber, Rossini, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Massenet.

Sharon Kam, Martin Helmchen and Gustav Rivinius prove themselves sharp-witted chamber music partners as they explore the depths of mature Brahmsian wisdom. All Kam’s previous releases have sold over 10,000 units!

These are live performances by world-class artists. The two featured works are very different in style and were composed 17 years apart. The performance features a top lineup of soloists including Sharon Kam.