Beethoven: Piano Quartet & String Quintet

“The Piano Quartet… is unadulterated Beethoven - his own transcription of his Op. 16 Quintet for piano and winds, with the wind instruments replaced by a string trio. The result deserves to be heard far more frequently, and the players of the Nash Ensemble do it proud. Theirs is a notably autumnal view of this early piece of Beethoven, but the performance has great warmth.” --BBC Music Magazine, July 2009 ****

“The Nash musicians play everything so delightfully, with such perfect control and subtle shadings, that you never feel seriously short-changed.” The Times, 20th June 2009 ****

“The Nash Ensemble give wonderfully polished performances of all three works, beautifully recorded, but special mention must be made of Ian Brown's piano-playing in the delicious galloping 6/8 rondo finale of the Piano Quartet, totally infectious.” --Gramophone Magazine, August 2009

“The translation to the new medium works well, especially given the Nash Ensemble’s shapely and intelligent reading. The Piano Quartet, another arrangement, is afforded equally characterful treatment; here, Beethoven seems close to the spirit of Mozart.” --Sunday Times, 12th July 2009 ***