The Wiener Streichsextett performs Brahms's String Sextet No. 1

Brahms, along with Boccherini, was one of the first composers to write string sextets in the late nineteenth century. This work, subtitled the “Spring Sextet” for its rural character, ranks among the most celebrated compositions of its kind. First performed by an ensemble under the direction of the renowned violinist Joseph Joachim—a close collaborator of Brahms—the piece unfolds in four movements that echo one another through subtle variations.

Not only was this Brahms’s favorite among his chamber works, but it also became a widely admired sextet, celebrated for its vibrant lyricism and striking freshness, qualities that have secured its place in popular culture, appearing in films like Les Amants by Louis Malle, La Pianiste by Michael Haneke, the Star Trek series etc. In this recording by the Wiener Streichsextett, the ensemble highlights every nuance of the piece with a performance that is both harmonious and deeply sensitive.