With Opp. 119 and 120, this release regroups the last solo piano work and the last chamber work composed by Brahms. These two genres played a major role in his output, and in these pieces one can easily hear that Brahms is drawing a finishing stroke. Their respective structures contrast as much as possible with one another- extended sonatas vs. short pieces- thereby offering us a glimpse into the inexhaustible universe of a composer’s entire life. Placed between the two monumental sonatas, the piano intermezzos offer the listener a breather for introspection and contemplation. Nicolai Pfeffer is a rising clarinet player who is about to make a spectacular career. He is a professor at three major universities in Cologne, Bremen, and Munich.
