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 the WDR Symphony Orchestra, 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 5 came to prominence in a 2017 tour across China which proved hugely successful and led to a further invitation for 2020. In 2021 the ensemble will perform at the international Enescu festival.
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. Alongside the season concerts at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall, the Quintet is bringing out a new Album with two of the Beethoven String Quintets in 2020.
Center of Performing Arts
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Program: M. Bruch - String Quintet in E flat Major, J. Brahms - String Quintet in F Major op. 88, L. van Beethoven - Piano Concerto no.4 in G Major op. 58
Guests: Haiou Zhang - piano
Location: Golfplatz 1, 78166 Donaueschingen
We are very excited about our newly released CD by Alpha-Classics. 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 early 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.
Ludwig van Beethoven - String Quintet op. 104 in c Minor
Live! from Cologne Philharmonic Hall:
Johannes Brahms - String Quintet op. 111 in G Major
Live! from Cologne Philharmonic Hall: