Bruch: String Quintets & Octet WDR Sinfonieorchester Chamber Players

• Max Bruch (1838 - 1920): String Quintet in E-Flat Major, Op. Posth.:
• 1Bruch: String Quintet in E-Flat Major, Op. Posth.: I. Andante con moto03:03
• 2Bruch: String Quintet in E-Flat Major, Op. Posth.: II. Allegro03:37
• 3Bruch: String Quintet in E-Flat Major, Op. Posth.: III. Andante con moto05:34
• 4Bruch: String Quintet in E-Flat Major, Op. Posth.: IV. Andante con moto - Allegro ma non troppo vivace06:34
• String Quintet in A Minor, Op. Posth.:
• 5Bruch: String Quintet in A Minor, Op. Posth.: I. Allegro09:56
• 6Bruch: String Quintet in A Minor, Op. Posth.: II. Allegro molto03:46
• 7Bruch: String Quintet in A Minor, Op. Posth.: III. Adagio non troppo04:08
• 8Bruch: String Quintet in A Minor, Op. Posth.: IV. Allegro07:05
• String Octet in B-Flat Major, Op. Posth.:
• 9Bruch: String Octet in B-Flat Major, Op. Posth.: I. Allegro moderato10:33
• 10Bruch: String Octet in B-Flat Major, Op. Posth.: II. Adagio - Andante con moto di molto07:14
• 11Bruch: String Octet in B-Flat Major, Op. Posth.: III. Allegro molto06:00
• Total Runtime01:07:30

Info for Bruch: String Quintets & Octet

Max Bruch was eighty years old when, in 1918, he decided to return to the chamber music genre he had frequented in his early years. Stimulated by the violin virtuoso Willy Hess, he composed two string quintets and an octet, monuments to beauty and harmony, at the end of a tumultuous personal life and in the midst of a western world on the brink of collapse. After an album devoted to Beethoven’s chamber music, the Chamber Players of the WDR Sinfonieorchester now tackle one of the last chapters of German Romantic music, with pieces that constitute Bruch’s swansong.

WDR Sinfonieorchester Chamber Players:
Ye Wu, violin
Cristian Suvaiala, violin
Mischa Pfeiffer, viola
Tomasz Neugebauer, viola
Susanne Eychmüller, cello

WDR Sinfonieorchester Chamber Players
A string Quintet with two violas was once standard in the 17th century. Many great composers have written masterpieces for this formation. These five musicians from WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, one of the leading European Orchestras, decided to draw their inspiration from years of devoted chamber music experience and their culturally diverse backgrounds.

Since their debut performance in 2016, WDR Chamber Players came to prominence in a 2017 tour across China which proved hugely successful. Their debut CD of Johannes Brahms String Quintets was released in April 2017 by Pentatone and was awarded the International magazine Diapason’s “Diapason D’or” prize.

Enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics have encouraged the ensemble to continue their path. Through live concerts and radio broadcast, the Chamber Players continues to realise their goal of sharing their passion for music with the listeners.

"Distinguished for their unified sound, colorful tone of expression and energetic intensity, the WDR Chamber Players manage to seamlessly combine symphonic scale with the intimacy of chamber music." "They give an infinite sensuality to the abundant lyricism, finding everywhere refined colours and a dynamic without gravity." 2020 was a challenging year for everyone. Since our concerts were cancelled due to pandemic restrictions, we focused on CD productions. Our CD of the Bruch String Quintets and Octet has just been released by Alpha classics and will soon be followed by Beethoven's String Trio and Septet.

We are invited to perform at the international Enescu Festival this September. Looking forward to be playing for audiences soon again!

Special thanks to Mr. Jianquan Ge and Mr. Peng Bai for sponsoring the Violin Rocca 1851, played by Ye Wu.

Booklet for Bruch: String Quintets & Octet