String Quintet

We are very excited to announce that our next CD with Alpha-Classics is devoted to Cologne born composer Max Bruch and was released in June 2021. It features both Bruch's string quintets as well as his string octet. Our colleagues Sara Etelävuori, Georgeta Iordache and Michael Geismann join us for this marvelous work.

Here are some early reviews:

The performances are transparent and intense, despite slender expression, so that the secondary voices can always be heard alongside the melody instruments. Nevertheless, the result is a coherent ensemble sound that breathes and feels with the music. Thus, their interpretations result in technically sophisticated and also expressively sensitive listening experiences.

We were thrilled by the release of our first CD with Alpha-Classics in January 2020. It features the rare and precious string quintets op.29 and op.104 as well as the short fuge op.137 by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is our own contribution to Beethovens' 250th birthday. We hope you enjoy it!

Here are some reviews:

The WDR Chamber Players make use of this strong music and offer gripping interpretations. With virtuoso freshness and powerful gestures, they fascinate the listener in both quintets as well as in the only two-minute long Fugue op. 137.

Our first CD was released in April 2017 for the Pentatone label. It features both string quintets of Johannes Brahms and was awarded with the prestigious Diapason d'Or Award by the french music mag Diapason.

Here some reviews:

Those musicians from the WDR Symphony of Cologne find the charm, the abandonment and the poetry (...).They give an infinite sensuality to the abundant lyricism, finding everywhere refined colours and a dynamic without gravity.

There is something slightly mystical about the string quintet, with its extra layer of harmony added to the more familiar two violins, viola and cello quartet line up. This recording is an eloquent statement of the finest Romantic chamber music.