The Ma'alot Quintet won the renowned ARD Munich Competition in 1989, leading to extensive international tours.
Performer Biography
Markus Becker has won the ECHO-Klassik award three times and the German Critics Choice Award for his CD recordings.
Performer Biography
The Ma'alot Quintet, featured on this album, is one of the world's leading chamber music ensembles, having won first prizes in four international chamber music competitions.
Compositional Technique
Ulf-Guido Schäfer, the clarinetist of the Ma'alot Quintet, created unique arrangements for the ensemble, which are almost entirely featured on their CD recordings.
Interpretation
Pianist Markus Becker notes that playing with a wind quintet requires him to 'breathe with the music' and imagine the gentle attack of wind instruments to achieve better ensemble synchronization.
Performer Biography
Markus Becker, the pianist on this album, is known for his interpretations of piano literature from Bach to Rihm and is also a virtuoso jazz improviser.
Historical Context
In Mozart's time, it was common to arrange opera music for 'wind harmony' (Harmoniemusiken) to make it accessible to a wider audience and contribute to its success.
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