Catalogue

Summary:

“This is truly lovely disc … the way these four musicians play together is wonderfully cohesive, sensitive and warm-hearted, and the results recall some of the finest chamber music playing of earlier decades. The sense of ensemble is something to marvel at, not just in terms of how well they play together but their collective sound: beautifully balanced and perfect for Brahms” – International Record Review

“The German-based Milanders play [Op. 25] with irresistible fire and passion. Maybe the intermezzo needs a slightly lighter touch, but they are splendid in the andante and in the Hungarian finale. The C minor seems to me a less fully realised work, but the performance is, again, very fine.” ★★★★ – The Sunday Times

“Four excellent instrumental soloists have created a perfect ensemble” – was the critical response following The Milander Quartet’s debut at the Philharmonie in Munich. Since then the Quartet has quickly become popular in Germany and throughout Europe. With this release, the first of two surveying the Brahms Piano Quartets, the Milanders make their recording debut. Anchored by pianist Milana Chernyavska, who has collaborated with such artists as Julia Fischer and Adrian Brendel and recorded a solo disc for EMI, this continental ensemble of Ukrainian, French and Swiss-Hungarian musicians has been praised for its dedicated, sensitive and passionate playing. They have performed at festivals such as the Lucerne, Verbier, Schleswig-Holstein, Marlboro, Rheingau, the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico and the Festival de Radio France at Montpelier, and in venues including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Philharmonie in Berlin, Musikverein in Vienna, Wigmore Hall in London, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Herkulessaal in Munich, Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Moscow Conservatory, and St. Petersburg’s Philharmonic Hall.

The Milander Quartet’s recording debut extends to legacy of the late producer John Barnes who brought many young artists to Avie, including award-winning pianist Luiza Borac and violinist Rudens Turku, who collaborated with Milana Chernyavska on his first release for Avie. This recording was among John’s final projects.

Tracklist:

JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833–1897)

Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
1. I Allegro (12:53)
2. II Intermezzo – Allegro ma non troppo – Trio – Animato (7:43)
3. III Andante con moto (11:38)
4. IV Rondo alla Zingarese – Presto (8:13)

Piano Quartet no.3 in C minor, Op. 60
5. I Allegro non troppo (10:48)
6. II Scherzo – Allegro (4:07)
7. III Andante (10:22)
8. IV Finale – Allegro comodo (10:19)

Total duration: 76:14

The Milander Quartet

Milana Chernyavska, piano
Lisa Schatzman, violin
Alexander Moshnenko, viola
Beni Santora, cello

Recorded 27 – 29 March 2007 at the Hochschule für Musik, Munich, Germany
Recorded by John Barnes and Sébastien Chonion
Edited and mastered by Sébastien Chonion