Brahms: Double Concerto/Piano Quartet No.3  (Audio CD) 
by Yo-Yo Ma

The Double Concerto by Brahms is an energetic and riveting yet enigmatic addition to the concerto repertoire. With a combination of solo instruments not widely used since the Baroque era due to their contrasting sounds, this work presents some unique challenges in finding the proper balance between orchestra, solo violin, and solo cello. Happily, this interpretation of the piece blends all of these elements perfectly. The orchestral tuttis are for the most part bold, yet entirely appropriate to the soloists' styles. Likewise, Stern and Ma blend together, trading off importance throughout the piece as if sharing one instrument and one mind. However, the recording becomes rather static-y in the loud sections and there are some disruptively noticeable splices in the recording (for example, 53 seconds into the third movement) that will probably annoy audiophiles. That said, it's an excellent performance.

With only four performers (Ax, Stern, Laredo, Ma), the piano quartet following does not have the same recording problems faced when trying to capture an entire symphony orchestra; listening to it is a pleasure. Although perhaps more famous for his symphonic works, Brahms genius truly comes across in this more intimate form, and you can be sure that players such as these are able to bring out every expressive nuance of the performance. There's a bit of excess string buzz noise (perhaps from the placement of the microphones?), but this one sounds almost as good as in a concert hall. Highly recommended.

1 of 9 found the following review helpful:

Ma's new partner?  Nov 24, 2003
In this recording Issac Stern and YoYo Ma show anothere example of their close relationship in classical music. Although I don't like Brahms's concerto musics that much because they are usually too complex and long, I can still hear a good co-operation between the two players. Now that Issac Stern is history and I hope that Mr. Ma can find a new partner to re-record this concerto. In my opinion, Joshua Bell is a good candidate because he is America's new violin genius.

8 of 15 found the following review helpful:

Suicide Music  Sep 17, 2000
I enjoy listening to this CD very much. Claudio Abbado conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the first piece. Isaac Stern and Yo-Yo Ma are soloists. The notes are brief, even so, they are helpful. From them I learned that the Concerto was written to ameliorate tension among two of Brahms' friends. It "generally adheres to classical forms" however, it is "unusual" because the "opening of the Allegro first movement" contains characteristics commonly found in a String Quartet. The first movement is full of energy. The interplay between the solo instruments, and the elaborations are fascinating to me. The notes describe the second movement, Andante, as richly melodic, and I would add that it sounds lush. In contrast to the first movement which is sometimes tense, the Andante is quite soothing. The piquant third movement, Vivace non troppo, reminds me of some of the Hungarian Dances vaguely. The second piece is a Piano Quartet performed by Emanuel Ax, Isaac Stern, Jaime Loredo and Yo-Yo Ma. The notes explain that "Brahms himself described the tragic mood of the passionate first movement Allegro non troppo, which sets the tone for the entire work: 'imagine a man who is going to commit suicide because nothing else remains for him to do.'" I did notice strident parts as well as tense sections. I did not feel like killing myself, though. ;D Again, the notes suggest that this piece may have been written while Brahms was hopelessly in love with Clara Schumann. The second movement Scherzo: Allegro, races along at such a pace, it seems to end too quickly. It is bracing, though. The third movement, on the other hand, is quite tender and lyrical. This movement is in "the distant key of E major, an unusual tonal juxtaposition which Beethoven had used in his Third Piano Concerto." After a short rest provided by the Andante, the Finale brings us back into despair and tragedy. I found these pieces to be intricately woven and complex works which I enjoy again and again. If you are interested in the music of Brahms, or enjoy music from the Romantic Period, this CD will be interesting to you.