Mendelssohn's "May Breezes Op. 62 No.1" is paradoxically given a positively autumnal reading here, though the mood is one of celebration of the passing of time and perhaps the immutable rhythm of the natural world, as opposed to anything forlorn. A similar mood also marks the duo's approach to "Immer Leiser Wird Mein Schlummer Op. 105 No.2," by Johannes Brahms. Here however the impression is filled out by the abundant affinity the two musicians have for this music in particular. Would it be beyond the realms of possibility for them to record the Brahms clarinet sonatas at some point in the future? We can but dream.

If this is something of a departure on record for Liebman in particular, it's just another string to his bow, in the best sense of that term, even when he has recorded so often in this duo format in the past. The results on Vienna Dialogues are steeped in a kind of melancholy beauty that makes for satisfying listening.