Johannes Brahms - Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in A Minor, Op. 114

Clarinet Trio (Brahms)
Trio for Clarinet, Violincello and Piano in A-Minor, Op. 114.

Recording, 1968.
Karl Leister, Clarinet.
Georg Donderer, Violincello.
Christoph Eschenbach, Piano.

The Trio for clarinet, cello and piano in A Minor, Op. 114, was one of four chamber works featuring clarinet composed by Johannes Brahms in rapid succession after emerging from retirement toward the end of his life. Brahms was inspired to compose these works by the playing of clarinettist Richard Muhlfeld. It is one of a small number of compositions for clarinet, cello and piano, and one of the very few to have entered the standard repertoire. Eusebius Mandyczewski, a scholar and friend of Brahms, wrote of the trio that "It is as though the instruments were in love with each other."