Passionately committed Brahms from Janine Jansen and friends at Wigmore Hall

Janine Jansen
© Lukas Beck

Janine Jansen (violin)

Timothy Ridout (viola)

Daniel Blendulf (cello)

Denis Kozhukhin (piano)

7.30pm, Thursday 21 December 2023

Wigmore Hall, London

★★★★★

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100

                                                    Viola Sonata No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 120 No. 2

                                                    Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60

Violin Sonata:

'Jansen and Kozhukhin contrasted well the intimate, almost prayerful opening with playful bounce in the offbeat rhythms that followed'.

'Beautiful pianissimo playing from Jansen always retained a warmth of contact, never airy or breathy in tone'.

Jansen, Ridout, Kozhukhin & Blendulf
© Nick Boston

Viola Sonata:

'Ridout has a quietly commanding presence, and right from the opening singing melody, he showed that he had the lyricism to convey Brahms’ long lines, but it was the ebb and flow of joint proceedings with Kozhukhin that drove this opening movement forward'. 

Piano Quartet:

'Right from Kozhukhin’s thundering opening to the Third Piano Quartet, and the dark string response, it was clear this would be a totally committed performance from all four musicians'.

'All four galloped through the strange rhythms of the second movement, with its gloriously startling major conclusion, then Blendulf stepped into the limelight with a beautifully lyrical opening to the Andante, Kozhukhin providing a gentle pulse'. 

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.