Album Brahms The String Quartets • Quatuor Agate, new album

Formed in 2016, the Agate Quartet derives its name from one of the most beautiful pages of chamber music, Johannes Brahms’ Sextet No. 2, which he dedicated to his second love, Agathe von Siebold. Seven years later, this fascination with Brahms finally materializes in the recording of their debut album, dedicated to the complete string quartets, set to be released on February 23, 2024, under Appassionato, le label.

order now

I believe an inexhaustible aspect of this music is its fantastic, almost mystical dimension, imbued with references to Hoffmann and the Nordic tales that Brahms heard as a child. (…) There is undeniably something in this body of work that is at times ghostly, at times heroic, but that inevitably transports us to a realm from which we emerge, in any case, not unscathed.

Raphaël Pagnon, violist of the Quartet.

In addition to these three monumental pieces, there is an arrangement by Adrien Jurkovic (first violin of the Quartet) of the Romance in F major, Op. 118, No. 5. The album release will be celebrated on March 18 at the Théâtre de l’Atelier with a concert featuring Brahms by night (with guests) and a surprise related to the composer’s love for gypsy music.

Download the sheet music

The Tracklist

CD1

String Quartet in C minor, Op. 51, No. 1

String Quartet in A minor, Op. 51, No. 2

CD2

String Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 67, No. 3

Romanze in F major, Op. 118, No. 5 (arranged by Quatuor Agate)

order now

An acclaimed quartet

Lauded with numerous international awards, the Quatuor Agate is an artist-in-residence at the Singer Polignac Foundation and a major resident at ProQuartet, among other honors. Recently named an ECHO Rising Star, the quartet is set to embark on a tour across prominent European venues for the 2024/2025 season. In addition to their concert activities, the Quatuor Agate has established the CorsiClassic Festival, held annually in Ajaccio, Corsica. The festival’s mission is to bring chamber music to diverse audiences.

A special evening for the album release

To celebrate the release of their debut album, the Agates explore all facets of the composer Johannes Brahms during a musical evening. In this concert, the Agates and their guests invite us to immerse ourselves in a fantasized, hallucinated night where visuals blend with music to wish Johannes Brahms: Eine Gute Nacht.

order now