Always the focus is on the intimate interaction between individual players.
Herbert von Karajan
Quinessential Mozart - light, sparkling and brilliant. The Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is also known as Serenade no.13 and is partnered with other Mozart chamber works; the sublime Serenata Notturna and three Divertimentos.
Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy
A very famous recording of Beethoven's most famous violin sonatas; the impassioned Kreutzer and the delightful Spring. Listen in the latter how Beethoven creates beautiful music from an ascending scale!
Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich
Beethoven invented the cello sonata, and nobody has equalled them. This recording from the 1960's is a classic - never bettered.
Budapest String Quartet
Schubert's chamber music has an emotional intensity and folk-like simplicity at the same time. His Trout Quintet and the quartet called Death and the Maiden covers the entire spectrum of emotion. Bargain priced. Wondrous stuff.
L'Archibudelli
Even though we think of Brahms as an orchestral composer, his chamber music output is more prolific. Read our review of the complete Brahms chamber music. His 2 sextets are gorgeously rich, intricate and moving.
Eugene Ormandy
Mendelssohn's music is always recognisable. Its witty and happy, but with a deep undercurrent. His Octet for Strings is an exercise in eight voices intricately entwined. This CD also includes other Mendelssohn masterpieces.
Kyung-Wha Chung, Radu Lupu
For a different perspective to the German music tradition is this almost impressionist French version. Cesar Franck and Claude Debussy's sonatas are the epitome of elegance.
Budapest String Quartet
Borodin's two string quartets are meltingly beautiful love letters to his wife. Read more about them here.
Joshua Bell, Olli Mustonen
Prokofiev's two sonatas represent opposite sides of his personality. The first is dark, austere, acerbic, often brutal, occasionally lyrical; the second, originally for flute and piano, is sunny, singing, exuberant, humorous.
