Korngold & Faure - 1921
Chianti Ensemble
OAK / HQ|NORTHSTAR
Catalogue OAK2401
(Low Resolution excerpts)
Soon available on Spotify
About the Album
Two masterworks, composed in the same year yet standing at opposite ends of a musical era: the Piano Quintet, Op. 15by a young Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and the Piano Quintet, Op. 115 by the seasoned Gabriel Fauré. Performed by the distinguished Chianti Ensemble, this recording offers a compelling portrait of 1921 — a pivotal moment when Romanticism drew to a close and modern sensibilities quietly emerged.
Korngold’s quintet dazzles with youthful brilliance, lush harmonies, and theatrical flair — the early voice of a composer who would later shape the sound of Hollywood. Fauré’s final chamber work, by contrast, is introspective and refined, suffused with grace and emotional depth — a poignant farewell to a remarkable career.
The Chianti Ensemble — Shin Sihan, Yamen Saadi, Takehiro Konoe, Alexander Warenberg, and Nathalia Milstein — delivers both works with stylistic finesse, rich tonal color, and an acute sensitivity to their historical and emotional dimensions.
This album is a rare dialogue between two composers and two perspectives: one looking toward the future, the other reflecting on a lifetime of musical expression. A must-have for connoisseurs of chamber music, late Romanticism, and early 20th-century repertoire.
Chianti Ensemble – 1921: Korngold & Fauré Piano Quintets
With the 1921 project, the Chianti Ensemble presents two contrasting yet complementary masterpieces of early 20th-century chamber music: Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Piano Quintet in E major, Op. 15 and Gabriel Fauré’s Piano Quintet No. 2 in C minor, Op. 115. Both composed in 1921, these works reflect opposite ends of the creative journey—Korngold, a young composer brimming with ambition, and Fauré, in the twilight of his life, introspective and refined.
The Chianti Ensemble—Shin Sihan, Yamen Saadi (violins), Takehiro Konoe (viola), Alexander Warenberg (cello), and Nathalia Milstein (piano)—unites some of the most exciting young musicians on the European classical scene. Formed after a series of chamber music concerts in Tuscany, the group received the prestigious Kersjes Prize in 2022 for their artistic excellence.
Korngold’s quintet is lush, expansive, and bold, bridging late Romantic intensity with early glimpses of his later Hollywood style. The second movement (Adagio) and third movement (Finale. Gemeßen, beinahe pathetisch) are highlights: cinematic, deeply lyrical, and emotionally charged. This is a dramatic, youthful work that radiates energy and expressive depth.
In contrast, Fauré’s Op. 115 reveals the composer’s mature voice—subtle, ethereal, and filled with longing. Written at the end of his life, it is one of his most personal and harmonically sophisticated chamber works. The Andante moderato (III) showcases long-spun melodies, translucent textures, and a serene beauty that offers a profound listening experience.
Together, these two quintets offer a unique listening arc across time and temperament: from the hopeful passion of a young Korngold to the graceful introspection of Fauré. The 1921 project invites listeners to reflect on change, legacy, and the many shades of musical expression within a single year of European history.
Album Tracks
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