| 1 CD |
€ 19.95
|
Preorder |
| Label Challenge Classics |
UPC 0608917200805 |
Catalogue number CC 720080 |
Release date 16 October 2026 |
Bringing together eight musicians from the Orchestre de chambre de Paris, this album reveals a fascinating dialogue between two masterpieces separated by a generation: Brahms’ radiant String Quintet No. 2 and Enescu’s visionary String Octet. Though composed at opposite ends of their creators’ lives - Brahms at the height of his maturity and Enescu as a remarkable 19-year-old prodigy - both works share an extraordinary richness of texture, polyphonic brilliance and emotional depth. Together, they illuminate a surprising musical kinship that bridges the Romantic tradition and the dawn of the twentieth century.
More than a recording, this album is the culmination of a shared artistic journey. Born from friendship, months of collaboration and a collective passion for chamber music, these performances reflect the unique spirit of the musicians themselves. Their vibrant interpretations celebrate both the intimacy and the symphonic power of these extraordinary scores, inviting listeners to discover two landmark works connected by imagination, innovation and an enduring love of musical dialogue.
Since it was founded half a century ago, the Orchestre de chambre de Paris has established itself as one of Europe’s foremost chamber orchestras. From the 2024/2025 season, it welcomes conductor Thomas Hengelbrock as musical director.
Embodying excellence as a Mozart-style ensemble, it boasts a vast repertoire ranging from the 17th century to today, with some 100 premieres to its credit. Its musicians also offer new readings of classical, particularly through collaborations with conductors specialising in the Baroque and soloists engaged to ‘play and direct’.
The Orchestre de chambre de Paris performs throughout Greater Paris with concerts at the Philharmonie de Paris, where it is a resident ensemble; the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées; Opéra-Comique; Théâtre du Châtelet as part of the Place des Théâtres project; and Salle Cortot.
For its season concerts, the Orchestre de chambre de Paris works with leading conductors, including Giovanni Antonini, Tabita Berglund, Maxim Emelyanychev, Thomas Dausgaard, Daniel Harding, Trevor Pinnock, Speranza Scappucci, Masaaki Suzuki, Gábor Takács-Nagy and soloists, including David Fray, Alban Gerhardt, Steven Isserlis, Pekka Kuusisto, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Roger Muraro, Laurent Naouri, Emmanuel Pahud, Marina Rebeka, Lise de la Salle, Tanja et Christian Tetzlaff, Carolin Widmann… Also travelling beyond the Paris area, the Orchestre de chambre de Paris regularly performs at festivals such as Roque d’Anthéron, as well as on international tours (Spain, China, South Korea, Germany).
Since its founding, the Orchestre de chambre de Paris has made around sixty recordings to its credit and more than ninety creations. He continues to highlight a variety of aesthetics and vocal repertoires, including oratorios, the chamber orchestra genre, and modern-day music. It has also developed a strong audiovisual policy, producing numerous recordings for radio, television, and various digital platforms.
As a musical actor engaged in its city, the orchestra has been recognised for its voluntary civic approach that aims to reach all segments of the population, including persons experiencing homelessness or social exclusion. With more than a hundred cultural events each season, its civic approach is rooted in the aim of fostering connection and sharing through music, with a focus on participation and transmission. Of late, this work has given rise to musical creations conceived with people living in shelters and prison inmates. Also deeply invested in continually renewing the relationship with audiences, the orchestra offers a series of participatory and immersive experiences. Through its OCP-Transmission program, it has developed three academies: the Paris Play-Direct Academy, the Young Women Composers Academy, and the Academy for students of the Paris Conservatory (CNSMDP).