Listen & tracks
4 of 13 tracks have a preview · 3 works · 51:33
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Romances Op. 22Clara Schumann 3 movements10:12
- 1 i. Andante molto 3:01
- 2 ii. Allegretto 2:55
- 3 iii. Leidenschaftlich schnell 4:16
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Sonata Op. 120, No. 1 in F minorJohannes Brahms 4 movements21:58
- 4 i. Allegro appassionato 7:58
- 5 ii. Andante un poco adagio 4:53
- 6 iii. Allegretto grazioso 3:59
- 7 iv. Vivace 5:08
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Sonata Op. 120, No. 2 in E flatJohannes Brahms 3 movements19:23
- 8 i. Allegro amabile 7:39
- 9 ii. Allegro appassionata 4:51
- 10 iii. Andante con moto 6:53
This album explores the late flowering of two intertwined musical souls: Johannes Brahms, whose inspiration was rekindled by clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld, and Clara Schumann, whose influence and artistry shaped Brahms’s creative life. The recording is steeped in tenderness, nostalgia and expressive intimacy – music where, in the words of Brahms’s friend Eusebius Mandyczewski, “it is as though the instruments were in love with each other.”
Recorded with clarity and warmth, True Romantics reveals the natural partnership between Arkinstall and Chong, two of Australia’s leading interpreters of Romantic chamber repertoire. Together they capture both the intensity and inward grace of these works, highlighting the lyrical introspection and passionate dialogue between clarinet and piano.
Reviews
The inspired coupling of music by Clara Schumann and Brahms highlights two great composers writing music at different points in their lives. Clara was only 34 and full of youthful energy whilst Brahms was near the end of his life. They knew each other well and indeed much has been speculated about Brahms unrequited love for Clara. To hear these works on the same CD adds an extra layer of meaning to their music and friendship. The Schumann work is a fine arrangement by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra violinist Roger Young of the Op.22 Violin Romances. So skilfully does this reworking sound it is hard to believe that this is not an original scoring and at the hands of these performers, Philip Arkinstall, clarinet, and pianist Kristian Chong the music sings its way into your heart. Listening to the opening mvts of the 1st Sonata it is as if we are looking on a conversation undertaken between two close friends such is the intimacy of the music. Arkinstall and Chong relish this music of introspection and exquisite beauty. The Allegretto grazioso and the Vivace fly along provoking smiles of delight. Australia is most fortunate to have some superb world-class clarinettists and foremost amongst this elite group is Philip Arkinstall and his collaboration with Kristian Chong is impeccable. This is a CD that bears repeated listening.
Artists
Philip Arkinstall
clarinet
Philip Arkinstall has appeared as soloist with the Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, West Australian and Tasmanian, Corpus Medicorum and Zelman symphony orchestras and also with the Malaysian and Royal Melbourne philharmonics in repertoire ranging from Mozart to Heinze.
Kristian Chong
piano
Leading Australian pianist Kristian Chong has performed frequently as soloist, chamber musician and recitalist throughout Australia and the UK, and in China, France, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, and Zimbabwe.
Johannes Brahms
composer
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) was a German composer and pianist of the Romantic period. His music for piano, chamber ensemble, orchestra, and voice remains central to the concert repertoire.
Clara Schumann
composer
Clara Schumann's chamber and piano works speak with lyrical warmth and intimate Romantic colour. Her Notturno and Three Romances, Op. 22, carry melodic lines that sit naturally under the fingers and in the ear, music shaped for the salon and the recital stage.
Roger Young
composer
Digital booklet
Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDFPerformers
- Philip Arkinstall · clarinet
- Kristian Chong · piano
Technical credits
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Recording Engineer
Haig Burnell
Philip Rowlands
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Credit
Martin Wright
Phillip Sametz
Details
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 51 minutes 33 seconds
- Release date
- 15 Oct 2025
- Category
- Classical
- Musical work copyright
- © 2025 Philip Arkinstall and Kristian Chong
- Sound recording copyright
- ℗ 2025 Move Records
- Catalogue
- MCD 668
- EAN
- 8721416410185
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