Brahms: Complete Clarinet Works | Sono Luminus SLE70048

Brahms: Complete Clarinet Works

£18.95

Label: Sono Luminus

Cat No: SLE70048

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 2

Genre: Chamber

Expected Release Date: 4th September 2026

Contents

Artists

Runar Oskarsson (clarinet)
Helga Bryndis Magnusdottir (piano)
Sigurdur Bjarki Gunnarsson (cello)
Siggi String Quartet (string quartet)

Works

Brahms, Johannes

Clarinet Quintet in B minor, op.115
Clarinet Sonata no.1 in F minor, op.120 no.1
Clarinet Sonata no.2 in E flat major, op.120 no.2
Clarinet Trio in A minor, op.114

Artists

Runar Oskarsson (clarinet)
Helga Bryndis Magnusdottir (piano)
Sigurdur Bjarki Gunnarsson (cello)
Siggi String Quartet (string quartet)

About

‘We clarinettists are profoundly grateful to Johannes Brahms for these four late works, composed near the end of his life. They stand as some of his most intimate and deeply felt music. We also owe thanks to the clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld, whose artistry moved Brahms so greatly that it inspired him to compose again.

‘Mühlfeld’s playing unlocked a new, quieter world for Brahms. Instead of writing large, dramatic works, Brahms started composing more personal and emotional music that highlighted the clarinet’s warm and gentle sound.

‘I was a young man when I first got to know these works, and in retrospect, I believe that my long engagement with these four compositions has shaped my approach to music-making more profoundly than any other repertoire, extending even to my interpretations of contemporary music.

‘There are certain compositions that simply refuse to let go. Often, after performing them, one assumes it will be the final time, yet that is seldom the reality. This has certainly been my experience with the works of Brahms. His music is a constant source of inspiration. Every time I set the music on the stand, something opens up - a new interpretative idea or a deeper understanding of the music. And then that feeling comes up that every musician recognises: I have to play this again!

‘This is music that demands stillness and focus, and for me, it serves as an escape from the speed and noise of modern life. We are inviting the audience into a space where time stands still, where we are allowed to be sincere and reflective.

‘It is both a privilege and a responsibility to keep these compositions present through performance and recording. After our recital in 2017 where we played all four works, the idea emerged to record them together.

‘I hope you will find as much enjoyment in listening as we found in bringing this music to life.’

– Rúnar Óskarsson

Error on this page? Let us know here

Need more information on this product? Click here