The Brahms Clarinet Quintet was premiered in Berlin in 1891 and was described by critic Eduard Hanslick as 'A work for connoisseurs'.
Composition History
Brahms had decided to retire from composing in January 1891, but his encounter with clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld inspired him to write the Clarinet Quintet.
Composition History
Houtaf Khoury's 'Gardens of Love' was commissioned by Catalan clarinettist Joan Enric Lluna and premiered at the Greenwich International Quartet Festival in April 2009.
Composer Biography
Richard Mühlfeld, the clarinettist who inspired Brahms, was originally a violinist in the Meiningen Court Orchestra before teaching himself to become a great clarinettist.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Houtaf Khoury's 'Gardens of Love' is deeply personal, reflecting the composer's feelings about the birth of his younger daughter Yelena in 2008.
Composition History
Brahms penned his will only two months before composing the Clarinet Quintet, which might contribute to the work's wistful mood.
Composer Biography
Johannes Brahms, a lifelong bachelor, coined the term 'Fräulein Klarinette' ('Miss Clarinet') for his new favorite instrument.
