The Phoenix Ensemble has been a fixture in the national chamber music scene, focusing on performances and recordings of 20th- and 21st-century music, for almost three decades. Navona Records releases their latest album, Clarinet Quintets, which focuses on clarinet quintets from both Johannes Brahms and Elliott Carter...

If you're a serious lover of classical music, you'll already own at least one recording of Brahms's Clarinet Quintet, Op 115. What's unique about this recording is that it pairs it with the work of modern composer Elliott Carter.

While I adore Brahms's work, I'm not a fan of modern classical music as presented here. There's more emphasis on getting strange and unusual sounds out of the instruments than there is delivering a work that is emotionally enriching. Out goes melody and traditional form and in comes experimentation and chaos. Occasionally, and in short bursts, this can be engaging and refreshing, over a longer work it can become tiresome and flat. It does have its moments, but these are few and far between.

What the album does perfectly, is bring these two very different musical approaches together - which is an interesting listening experience and it's obvious that the players relished the opportunity to play traditional and modern styles together.

Track listing:

JOHANNES BRAHMS
CLARINET QUINTET IN B MINOR, OP. 115 (1891)
Mark Lieb (clarinet), Igor Pikayzen & Regi Papa (violins), Katarzyna Bryla (viola), Alice Yoo (cello)
01 - I. Allegro
02 - II. Adagio
03 -III. Andantino
04 - IV. Con moto

ELLIOTT CARTER
05 - ESPRIT RUDE / ESPRIT DOUX (1985)
Anna Urrey (flute), Mark Lieb (clarinet)

ELLIOTT CARTER
CLARINET QUINTET (2007)
Mark Lieb (clarinet), Igor Pikayzen & Regi Papa (violins), Colin Brookes (viola), Caleb van der Swaagh (cello)
06 - I. Allegro non troppo
07 - II. Meno mosso
08 - III. Adagio
09 - IV. Presto
10 - V. Meno mosso

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Darren Rea