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In the autumn of 1857 Brahms accepted a partial yearly post at the Court of Detmold, a provincial castle set in the Teutoburger Forest, with the understanding that he would instruct the resident princess in piano and perform at court functions. A tranquil backwater, Detmold proved a haven for Brahms, who was recovering from the death of his staunch supporter Robert Schumann and his unrequited love for Clara Schumann. Brahms found ample time to compose and recover his serenity during long walks in the woods. He began several chamber works at Detmold, among which was the Opus 18 sextet. Because the self-critical Brahms continually polished and revised his Major works for long periods, the work premiered three years later.
The first of Brahms's two sextets, Opus 18 reveals the classical orientation of his formative period. The influence of Beethoven and Haydn is consistently heard in the work's supple motivic treatment and in its clear presentation of themes, always filtered through the warmth of Brahms's uniquely romantic intensity.
The Allegro movement develops three lyrical themes. The cello, prominent in both the first and final movements, presents the singing, opening Mozartean themes. The violin articulates the second, a gracefully descending figure. The entire ensemble offers the third, which resembles an Austrian country dance. The Andante movement is a set of six variations and a coda based on a rugged, minor-key Hungarian gypsy theme. Brahms himself was so fond of this movement that he arranged the variations as a piano solo, which he often played for friends. The Scherzo movement unfolds with a rustic, boisterous humor suggesting Beethoven's scherzo of the Pastoral Symphony. The finale is a cheerful, Haydenesque rondo that drives to a jubilant conclusion.
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)
Piano Quintet in A Major, Opus 81, with Ralph Votapek, Josef Suk, Ani Kavafian, Cynthia Phelps, and
Peter Rejto.
Dvorak's Opus 81 Piano Quintet ranks as one of the finest creations in the chamber repertoire. The work was written during his intensely nationalistic phase, a period in which his works were infused with the vitality inherent in Slavonic rhythms and melodic styles. Dvorak's own friends described the quintet as an accurate portrait of its composer. A man who experienced constantly changing nuances of mood, Dvorak has created a piece that moves through a wide spectrum of emotions: pensive brooding quickly changes to exuberance, which dissolves to tranquility. Dvorak, who was most himself in the countryside, wrote his Opus 81 at his new summer home, and the peaceful beauty of his rural surroundings perhaps is reflected in the quintet's glowing sonorities.
The Allegro continuously recasts its two themes--the first presented by the cello and the second by the viola--through various transformations of scoring and tempo. The second movement is a dumka, a form that is basically melancholy in atmosphere but includes lively, joyous sections. Here the slow, elegiac opening subject alternates with abruptly rapid sections to create a rondo form. Dvorak called the following scherzo a furiant, although it does not use the characteristic alternating duple and triple rhythms of this vigorous dance. The high-spirited dance rhythms and vivid Slavonic melodies of the finale bring the work to a brilliant conclusion.
© Notes: Nancy Monsman
Josef Suk, Violinist, has won international renown as a pre-eminent soloist and chamber musician. Following his Prague recital debut, Mr. Suk joined the distinguished Prague Quartet as a first violinist and soon after formed his own chamber group, The Suk Trio. A prolific recording artist, Josef Suk has recorded for EMI, London/Decca, Supraphon, and Erato, among other labels. He is a six-time winner of the Grand Prix du Disque de l'Academie Charles Cros, and has been honored by the Viennese Mozart Society.
Ani Kavafian, Violinist, has earned both critical acclaim and a prominent place on the international concert scene for more than a decade. She performs as recitalist, soloist with orchestra, and chamber musician. Ms. Kavafian's list of prestigious awards includes the Avery Fisher Prize and the Young Concert Artists International Competition. She records on the Nonesuch, RCA, Columbia, and Music Heritage labels.
Cynthia Phelps, Violist, is principal violist of the New York Philharmonic and also maintains a career that embraces solo recital work and numerous chamber music appearances. She has been a featured soloist on popular programs such as St. Paul Sunday Morning and the MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour.
Vlastimil Holek, Violinist, is a member of The Prazak Quartet and a graduate of the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied with Professor Hlounova. He performs regularly in duo with piano and as soloist with orchestra.
Josef Kluson, Violist, is a founding member of the Prazak Quartet. He appears as a soloist and gives numerous Master Classes each year.
Michal Kanka, Cellist, is a member of The Prazak Quartet. He has won top prizes in international competitions, including the Tchaikovsky Cello Competition (Moscow 1982), the Prague Spring Competition (1983), and the ARD International Competition (Munich 1986). He also performs and records as a soloist internationally.
Peter Rejto, Cellist, has been acclaimed throughout the U.S. and abroad as one of this country's leading artists. Since winning the 1972 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, he has performed hundreds of recitals and concerto programs with groups such as the Dallas and St. Louis Symphonies. Mr. Rejto has toured with "Music from Marlboro" and has performed at the festivals of Santa Fe, Aspen, La Jolla, Round Top, and "Bravo," Colorado. He appears regularly with The Los Angeles Piano Quartet, of which he is a founding member.
Ralph Votapek, Pianist, captured international attention with the prestigious Naumberg Award in 1959 and a Gold Medal at the First Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1962. Mr. Votapek, who presently serves as artist-in-residence at Michigan State University, concertizes extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America. He has been a guest performer with the Juilliard, Fine Arts, and New World String Quartets. Mr. Votapek has recorded for RCA Victor, London, Music and Arts, and Pickwick.
Recording and Mastering: Matthew Snyder
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