Back to the Chamber

Some Brahms chamber music played by the Belcea Quartet. Brahms wrote chamber music for many combinations but not much for the classical format of the string quartet. I wonder whether that was for purely musical reasons or whether he was intimidated by Beethoven's string quartet legacy in the same way as he famously was for so long with the symphony ? Whatever, this cd features String Quarter Op 51 No 1 and the Belcea's are joined by Thomas Kakuska on viola for the String Quintet Op 111. The Belcea are a fine young quartet who had a spell of heavy recording activity that seems to have slowed down currently following personnel changes. Maybe a period of retrenchment ?