Joachim Raff - String Sextet; Piano Quintet (Ensemble Villa Musica)

Information

Composer: Joachim Raff

• String Sextet in G major, Op. 178
• Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 107

Ensemble Villa Musica

    Nicolas Chumachenko, violin

    Chiara Morandi, violin

    Erika Geldsetzer, violin

    Enrique Santiago, viola

    Hariolf Schlichtig, viola

    Martin Ostertag, cello

    Michel Dispa, cello

    Kalle Randalu, piano

Date: 2003

Label: Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm

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Review

Raff is one composer whose posthumous reputation has suffered enormously with his vast oeuvre almost completely forgotten. A recent revival of his symphonies on a variety of labels has shown that he has flair and charm if not always a top rank composer.

Dabringhaus & Grimm continually churns out precious chamber music gems that are fast becoming unique to the catalogue. This latest release is no exception and I would advise listeners who have found Raff's symphonies enjoyable to sample some of his most exquisite chamber works.

The Sextet, Op. 178 is probably the best work of the two recorded here with a highly enjoyable Allegro and a beautiful Larghetto, rather reminiscent of Beethoven's 2nd Symphony. Raff uses colour and has a fine palette that makes the music all the more attractive especially in the final Allegro.

The Grand Quintet is an earlier work and at times, I do feel that the piano part is a mite boorish but other listeners may digress from that view! It would be safe to say that the Ensemble Villa Musica are ideal interpreters and that the disc will appeal to chamber music lovers who enjoy seeking out such rarities.

— Gerald Fenech

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Joachim Raff (27 May 1822 —  24 or 25 June 1882) was a German composer and teacher who was greatly celebrated in his lifetime but nearly forgotten by the late 20th century. Initially a self-taught musician, he was influenced by Mendelssohn and Schumann before aligning with Liszt and Wagner's "New German School". He served as Liszt's assistant in Weimar and later taught piano in Wiesbaden. From 1877, he directed the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt. A prolific composer, Raff wrote 11 symphonies, concertos, operas, choral, chamber and piano music. Many of these works are now commercially recorded.

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Ensemble Villa Musica was founded in 1990 during master classes organized by the Villa Musica foundation in Mainz. Composed of principal players from top German orchestras, the group focuses on performing both standard chamber music and overlooked masterworks. Led by clarinetist Ulf Rodenhäuser, its 20 members over the years include renowned musicians like Rainer Kussmaul, Thomas Brandis and Klaus Thunemann. The ensemble gained acclaim with recordings such as Schubert's Trout Quintet, Hindemith's complete sonatas, and works by Strauss, Martinu, Reger, Ponchielli and Schumann.

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