Schumann/Brahms: Piano Quintets
Schumann's Piano Quintet has always been one of his most beloved pieces of chamber music, and Brahms's was one of his first great musical successes. Neither composer ever explored the medium again, so the two works make a very logical coupling. Alone among major labels today, Naxos seems dedicated to creating a truly comprehensive catalogue of chamber music recordings, and even more importantly, to keeping them in print long enough for music lovers to explore their musical riches. In artists like the Kodaly Quartet and Jeno Jando, they have musicians of as fine a caliber as you will find anywhere, and at budget price you can go crazy. And you should.--David Hurwitz