When I posted Brahms’ Rondo alla ZIngarese quite early on in this project, I mentioned that usually turn to Brahms when I want a big, comforting musical hug, and so as I’m choosing calmer music for Holy Week, and  because suddenly the news has got very anxious and serious, it’s time to bring out the Horn Trio. Listening to this always makes me feel that things can get better, it’s warm and enveloping, a gentle pillow on which to lay a troubled head.

As a side note, I rather like the choice of artwork for this very fine recording because late Brahms chamber music always has the label ‘autumnal’ hung upon it, and this picture sets you up to think differently about it.  It’s a line-up too on this one: Barry Tuckwell, Itzak Perlmann and Vladimir Ashkenazy.