Our Summer BAL 19 - Schumann Piano Quintet

[Barbirollians]

I love this work and have recently been enchanted by the Melnikov/Jerusalem Quartet combination on harmonia Mundi . Terrific playing and the first to challenge my favourite of Argerich and gang at Lugano .

Any other favourites ?

[gurnemanz]

Certainly one my favourite Schumann works. I seem to have only one version, the Beaux Arts, on a good value Philips Duo with the Trios and the Quartet. Beautiful, lively playing and a lucid, well-balanced recording.

[vinteuil]

... this is a work that has been surprisingly well served by HIPP performers. I have Richard Burnett with the Fitzwilliams, Elena Mateucci with the Michelangelos, Federica Valli with la Gaia Scienza - of these the last my current preferred.

Of 'modern instrument' versions, I have Paul Gulda with the Hagens, and Christian Zacharias with the Cherubinis - I prefer the latter.

[cloughie]

Frankl and the Lindsays.

[visualnickmos]

There is a very good one on DG with Menahem Pressler and the Emerson Sring quartet; also has the Piano Quintet - same artists.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I can muster Rubinstein/ Guarneri and Serkin/ Budapest on LP, with CDs of Argerich and Lugano chums, Biss/ Jerusalem (BBC MM). No special favourite, but this minute would reach for one of the LPs which sadly I haven't spun for years.

[HighlandDougie]

There is a very good one on DG with Menahem Pressler and the Emerson Sring quartet; also has the Piano Quintet - same artists.

Seconded - Menahem Pressler is a joy to hear (but thumbs up also for Melnikov/Jerusalem - and Argerich - and Pires .....)

[verismissimo]

Frankl and the Lindsays.

Heard them play it live in the small hall at Blackheath in the late 80s. Thought they'd blow the roof off.

[Barbirollians]

The Jerusalem Quartet recording couples it with the Piano Quartet which I have to admit I did not know . Charming work .

The JQ do not seem to have suffered at all for the original violist having left to become Principal Viola of the Berlin Philharmonic.

[amateur51]

Seconded - Menahem Pressler is a joy to hear (but thumbs up also for Melnikov/Jerusalem - and Argerich - and Pires .....)

Isn't he just - he's having a similar golden autumn to his career that Horszowski had. How lucky we are to be witnesses to the wonderful fruit of a lifetime's experience and devotion to his craft

[AmpH]

Particular favourites, of contrasting age and interpretation, are Clifford Curzon with the Budapest Quartet and M-A Hamelin with the Takacs Quartet. Best of all however, in my view, are Argerich and friends live at the Concertgebouw in 1994, from a splendid Schumann disc.

[Barbirollians]

Particular favourites, of contrasting age and interpretation, are Clifford Curzon with the Budapest Quartet and M-A Hamelin with the Takacs Quartet. Best of all however, in my view, are Argerich and friends live at the Concertgebouw in 1994, from a splendid Schumann disc.

That is the Argerich performance I meant - I do not know where I got Lugano from for that . I imagine because it was released some time after the event .

[BBMmk2]

Ah Barbirollians you just had me lookIng at my collection of Argerich /Lugano and Friends and couldn't find it!! Now I k ow! It be great if she were to perform this at one of those concerts!

[AmpH]

Ah Barbirollians you just had me lookIng at my collection of Argerich /Lugano and Friends and couldn't find it!! Now I k ow! It be great if she were to perform this at one of those concerts!

Bbm - Argerich and friends have performed it at Lugano - its on this set :-

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/EMI/4768712

[amateur51]

Another Argerich-led set ...

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/EMI/5573082