The mysterious virtuoso and world-renowned soloist and recitalist Evgeny Kissin doesn’t often venture into the realm of chamber music. The Emerson Quartet were therefore presented with a unique opportunity when they were offered to do an eight-concert tour of Germany and the United States with the famous pianist. For this album, Deutsche Grammophon decided to record their last performance together at Carnegie Hall in New York on April 27, 2018 and after much deliberation the decision was finally made to perform two major pieces in a minor key. The first is Mozart’s famous Quartet in G minor, and for the second we delve into the world of romanticism with just a hint of nostalgia with the young Gabriel Fauré’s Quartet in C minor. The concert ends with Dvořák’s light-hearted and joyful Quintet in A major, with its undertones of Czech folklore. No musician tried to steal the show as the collective priority seemed to be performing these masterpieces classically. The musicians work together humbly and cooperatively in an intimate atmosphere that feels more like they’re in a living room than a legendary concert hall. © François Hudry/Qobuz