This Camerata disc contains as beautiful and idiomatic a pair of Brahms performances as are likely to be found on disc. The Horn Trio that opens the disc features Lars Michael Stransky, first hornist of the
Wiener Philharmoniker since 1993, and Peter Wächter, a violinist in the same orchestra since 1963, while the Clarinet Trio that closes the disc features
Peter Schmidl, solo clarinetist with the
Philharmoniker since 1968, and Tamás Varga, solo cellist with both the
Philharmoniker and the
Vienna Symphony Orchestra since 1998. Stransky's heroic technique, mellow tone, and soulful interpretation suits the Horn Trio perfectly, and
Schmidl's effortless technique, pungent tone, and sorrowful interpretation fit the Clarinet Trio equally well. If there is a weak link in both performances, it is pianist
Hiromi Okada who, though he is a more than adequate player, sometimes seems outclassed by his fellow musicians. Still, he hangs in there, and his playing never detracts from the overall excellence of what's happening around him. Recorded in Vienna in 2002 and 2004, Camerata's digital sound is lush, deep, and warm.