Brahms: Frei aber einsam: String Quartets Op. 51

Brahms discarded over 20 quartets before publishing Op. 51 and Cuarteto Quiroga repay the fastidiousness with lyrical, finely-chiselled readings, though some of the dramatic urgency is a touch... — BBC Music Magazine, October 2015 More…

Release Date: 14th Aug 2015
Catalogue No: COBRA0048
Label: Cobra
Length: 72 minutes

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Excerpt, Brahms: String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51 No. 1

Work length18:47

Cuarteto Quiroga

I. Allegro

Track length11:28

II. Poco adagio

Track length7:19

Brahms: String Quartet No. 1, Op. 5: III. Allegretto molto moderato e comodo

Work length8:57

Cuarteto Quiroga

Brahms: String Quartet No. 1, Op. 51: IV. Allegro

Work length6:08

Cuarteto Quiroga

Brahms: String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51 No. 2

Work length36:13

Cuarteto Quiroga

I. Allegro

Track length13:42

II. Andante moderato

Track length9:43

III. Quasi minuetto, moderato

Track length5:35

IV. Allegro non assai

Track length7:13

Brahms: In stiller Nacht (No. 42 from Deutsche Volkslieder, WoO 33)

Work length2:35

Cuarteto Quiroga

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After their two succesful albums "Statements" (COBRA0035) and "(R)evolutions" (COBRA0037) the prize winning Cuarteto Quiroga returns again with another innovative and bold recording: "Frei aber einsam" (COBRA0048).

"Frei aber Einsam – ‘free but lonely’ – was the motto Brahms shared with his good friend Joseph Joachim and it forms the motivic basis of all the movements of his second quartet: the first letter of each German word represents a musical note (F-A-E). The inherent melancholic character of this motto can often be found within his music. Brahms identified with it deeply, having fought virtually alone in defence of his work, his aesthetic conception and his chamber music. To the end, he remained true to himself refusing any path marked by fads and trends that might have impinged upon his freedom and independence. Never once did he regret his position despite the suffering that it caused him. In his own words: “For me F.A.E. (Frei aber Einsam) has remained a symbol and in spite of everything, I may very well bless it.”

This wonderful recording is a testament to Brahms' beliefs performed by the first class Cuarteto Quiroga.

Reviews

October 2015

Brahms discarded over 20 quartets before publishing Op. 51 and Cuarteto Quiroga repay the fastidiousness with lyrical, finely-chiselled readings, though some of the dramatic urgency is a touch contained.

Brahms: Frei aber einsam

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