The Two Piano Quintets
The Schubert Ensemble of London
ASV Records
These two Piano Quintets (1839,
1840) were significant in establishing Louise Farrenc's (1804-1875)
reputation as a leading composer in nineteenth Century France. The
music is elegant, with Romantically inflected harmonic ideas
within a more Classical formal structure. Both are beautifully
crafted and the result is an exceedingly tasteful and attractive duo of works.
The composition of the pieces isn't perfect though - some sections seem a little
unadventurous and lack imagination. The performance from this
highly regarded Ensemble is assured: always balancing and shaping each idea
and playing vibrant sections with a wonderful
sense of vitality, and the contrasting slower, more graceful
sections with a sensuous tone. The scoring, for piano, violin, viola,
cello, and double bass, in both Quintet offers much scope for
versatililty and textural broadness using the piano often as a
decorative harmonic accompaniment.
(Spencer James)
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