Max Bruch: Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, Op. 83

Formed in 2011, the Philon Trio, composed of Canadian-Portuguese clarinettist David Dias da Silva, British violist Adam Newman and German pianist Camilla Köhnken, defines itself by its personal and intimate approach to the chamber repertoire, coupled with a great respect for music, in order to achieve remarkable aural sensitivity. The post-romantic style and profoundly lyrical writing of the German composer Max Bruch (1838-1920) suit this intention perfectly with these eight contrasting pieces, sentimental, passionate, and of absolute melodic rigour, from which strong Brahmsian influences emerge. This is an important distinction from the styles of other composers of his time, such as Berg, Schoenberg, and Stravinsky.