Boston Symphony Chamber Players—The Complete RCA Album Collection 1964-1968

As we discuss this very welcome RCA set of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players’ first recordings after their founding by Boston Symphony Music Director Erich Leinsdorf in 1964, you may enjoy my recent review of their later Deutsche Grammophon recordings from the 1970s.

I was keenly aware of the DG recordings as I purchased them all when they were initially released over 50 years ago, but I was unaware of the group’s first recordings on RCA (1964-1968).

The repertoire here is not replicated on the DG set, so you may purchase both sets and have benchmark performances of much of the important repertoire for small chamber groups.

When you win a solo chair in the Boston Symphony Orchestra, it’s usually a lifetime appointment—there’s only lateral moves after Boston, the great hall and the orchestra’s endowment (approaching half a billion dollars in 2026!). And other major perks are membership in the Chamber Players, performing and teaching at Tanglewood and playing during the regular season in Boston. An idyllic musical life. No wonder once situated, few move.

The membership of the group is wonderfully consistent across both decades. So, famous artists like flute legend Doriot Anthony Dwyer, violinist Joseph Silverstein, violist Burton Fine, cellist Jules Eskin, percussionist Vic Firth, Sherman Walt, bassoon and Ralph Gomberg, oboe play on both sets. Only clarinet (Gino Cioffi) and French horn (James Stagliano) are different. We also have the very welcome addition of pianist Claude Frank when a piano is required. Also, the great pianist Richard Goode joins the players for wonderful performances of Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet and the Poulenc Sextet.

Where the DG box has nine CDs, the RCA box has ten. CD 10 includes a chamber music discussion between Peter Ustinov, conductor Erich Leinsdorf and violinist Joseph Silverstein with musical illustrations.

All recordings took place in Symphony Hall, and the CDs have been remastered by the wizards at Soundmirror. Much like the DG reissues, the RCA box sound is exemplary—a lovely, warm acoustic highlighting the dynamic, beautiful playing.

Included are three famous wind quintets, all receiving brilliant performances—by Elliot Carter, Hindemith’s famous Kleine Kammermusik for wind quintet, Op. 24 No. 2 and the glorious Summer Music by Samuel Barber.

CD 1 begins the proceedings with a sparkling performance of the Mozart Flute Quartet No. 1 in D major, K285 played with great style and musical perfection by flutist Dwyer. She was principal in the orchestra for 38 years. Pianist Claude Frank joins on CD 1 and 3 and shines in the great piano quartets by Mozart (Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K478) and Brahms (Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60). The string playing in these two masterpieces is also sublime.

One of my favourite works by Mozart, his wonderful Quintet for Piano and Winds in E flat, K452, receives a performance worthy of the great ensembles of Europe.

CD 6 includes another chamber masterpiece, Schubert’s Piano Quintet in A major, D667 “The Trout”. Goode is especially brilliant here, as is Joseph Silverstein on violin. The performance and recording do not eclipse the great Decca LP with Curzon and members of the Vienna Octet, but Henry Portnoi’s bass is in tune compared to the Viennese player, who’s a little sharp at times. That said, I could live easily with Goode and the Bostonians who give us a great “Trout”.

CD 7 includes the hustle and bustle of the Poulenc Sextet for piano and wind quintet, Op. 100 and the more formal, elegant and very beautiful Martinů Nonet for wind quintet, violin, viola, cello & double bass, H. 374. Martinů is such a great composer. The performance of the Nonet is superb. As is the famous Nonet by Louis Spohr.

CD 7 opens with a knockout Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat major, D898 by Schubert. This is one of the highlights of the set with impassioned playing by all three musicians. And the dynamite remastering captures all their power. Wow!

No matter where you begin with the set, you’ll be hearing world-class chamber music performances in splendid remastered sound. Even though 8 of the original LPs bear the dreaded “Dynagroove” label (a very misguided compression added to RCA albums for a few years), the compression did not affect solo and chamber recordings as much as full orchestra recordings. In any case, Soundmirror has given us crystal clear, warm recordings of these virtuosos in their famous home. Like the DG box set, buy before the set sells out. Very highly recommended.

Tracklist

CD 1

Mozart: Flute Quartet No. 1 in D major, K285

Mozart: Oboe Quartet in F major, K370

Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60

CD 2

Beethoven: Serenade in D major for Flute, Violin and Viola, Op. 25

Fine, I G: Fantasia for String Trio

Copland: Vitebsk - study on a Jewish theme for violin, cello & piano

Carter, E: Oboe Quartet

Piston: Divertimento

CD 3

Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K478

Mozart: Quintet for Piano and Winds in E flat, K452

CD 4

Brahms: Horn Trio in E flat major, Op. 40

Schubert: String Trio in B flat major, D471

CD 5

Poulenc: Trio for piano, oboe and bassoon

Haieff: Bagatelles (3) for Oboe and Bassoon

Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 6 for flute and bassoon

Colgrass: Variations

CD 6

Schubert: Piano Quintet in A major, D667 'The Trout'

Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8

CD 7

Poulenc: Sextet for piano and wind quintet, Op. 100

Webern: Concerto for Nine Instruments Op. 24

Martinů: Nonet for wind quintet, violin, viola, cello & double bass, H. 374

Dahl, I: Duet Concertino for Flute & Percussion

CD 8

Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat major, D898

Milhaud: Pastorale, Op. 147

Hindemith: Kleine Kammermusik for wind quintet, Op. 24 No. 2

CD 9

Spohr: Nonet in F major, Op. 31

Wilson Coker: Concertino for Bassoon and String Trio

Barber: Summer Music, Op. 31

CD 10

Chamber Music Discussion, Part I

Beethoven: Serenade in D Major, Op. 25: IV. Andante con variazioni 

Chamber Music Discussion, Part II

Brahms: Quartet in C Minor, Op. 60: II. Scherzo. Allegro 

Chamber Music Discussion, Part III

Mozart: Flute Quartet in D Major, K. 285: I. Allegro 

Mozart: Oboe Quartet in F Major, K. 370: II. Adagio 

Chamber Music Discussion, Part IV

Fine, I G: Fantasia for String Trio: I. Adagio ma non troppo

Piston: Divertimento for Nine Instruments: III. Vivo

A Survey of Chamber Music with Musical Illustrations

Boston Symphony Chamber Players