The Golden Fork for Tuning Brahms by Geoffroy Couteau and Friends

DIn the 1920s, Schoenberg assessed that among the wind instruments, only the clarinet and the horn, “as perfect as the violin”, reached a high level of technical and expressive possibilities. This proves that Brahms is right, who did not invite other winds into his chamber music. Breathing widely without forcing the line, digging into ideas and details without overloading or untimely intentions, Geoffroy Couteau plays naturally, neither too orchestral, nor too abstract or mineral. in Sonata Op. 129 no. 1 (1894) in fa minor with Nicolas Baldeyrou, the first to strike the equality of breathing and apparent independence in movement. The duo soberly makes Brahms appear as a discoverer in matters of rhythm and harmony, and not only in the meticulous thematic treatment of the first movement. The composer’s rejection of any external gloss is perfectly assumed here. The middle and final movements gradually soften the climate of restrained passion at the beginning.

insinuating, Sonata Op. 120 no. 2 in middle major combines (transient) drive and fleeting, if not evasive, gentleness. The osmosis between Couteau’s piano, rich, full and open, and Baldeyrou’s clarinet, bright, disciplined and passionate at the same time, preserves a mystery that never veers too ethereal.

A key work at the peak of maturity, the Horn Trio Op. 40 (1865) is it just a nostalgic look at the years of youth in Hamburg? Nothing is less certain. Amaury Coeytaux, the first violinist of Modigliani, the hornist Antoine Dreyfuss and Geoffroy Couteau favor a spatial perspective, emitting phrases with great amplitude in a variety of colors and dynamic nuances. The flexibility of these clean lines promotes a beautiful balance between colors, complementary because they are fundamentally different. Classy visions in an already rich discography. Geoffroy Couteau thus stylishly concludes a complete collection of Brahms’ chamber music works with piano, extremely exemplary in its intelligence and musicality.

JOHANNES BRAHMS: Two sonatas for clarinet and piano. Violin Trio,
horn and piano. Nicolas Baldeyrou (clarinet), Antoine Dreyfuss (horn), Amaury Coeytaux (violin), Geoffroy Couteau (piano). La Dolce Volta. Ø 2018 and 2022. TT: 1 h 09′. Golden tuning fork

Concert on June 5 in Gaveau Hall.