PRO ARTE QUARTET Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 (1935) - PACM009

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PRO ARTE QUARTET Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 (1935) - PACM009

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Overview

BRAHMS String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat major, op. 18
Recorded Abbey Road Studio 3, London, 8-9 March, 1935
Duration 30:59

The Pro Arte Quartet:
Alphonse Onnou, violin
Laurent Halleux, violin
Germain Prevost, viola
Robert Maas, cello

with:
Alfred Hobday, viola
Anthony Pini, cello


This set contains the following albums:

  • Producer's Note
  • Full Track Listing
  • Cover Art

Brahms' First String Sextet

The Pro Arte Quartet plus two, remastered for finest sound quality


It may be assumed from the sheer quantity and breadth of Brahms' writing for small ensembles that Chamber Music was his favourite mode of expression. He uses a wide variety of instrumental combinations and numbers, the largest ensembles of which are the string sextets, the first of which we're delighted to present here.

When I approached this recording I admit it was with some trepidation - the piece is amongst my all-time favourites, and I feared that this early interpretation may not do it justice, or at least that the sound quality might let it down. I could not have been more wrong. Brahms' frequently dense sextet writing is ideal for the 78rpm medium, effectively blanking out much of the inherent surface noise with a wall of sound (with apologies to Phil Spector!).

Couple this with a superlative performance by the Pro Arte Quartet, with Alfred Hobday and Anthony Pini supplying second viola and cello respectively, and in this brand new Pristine Audio remastering you have an irresistable combination.


Andrew Rose



  • BRAHMS String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat major, op. 18
    Recorded Abbey Road Studio 3, London, 8-9 March, 1935
    Originally released in 1935 as HMV DB2566-2569
    Matrix nos: 2EA1325-II, 2EA1326-II, 2EA1327-II, 2EA1328-ii, 2EA1329-II, 2EA1331-III, 2EA1332-II, 2EA1333-I
    Duration 30:59


The Pro Arte Quartet:
Alphonse Onnou, violin
Laurent Halleux, violin
Germain Prevost, viola
Robert Maas, cello

with:
Alfred Hobday, viola
Anthony Pini, cello