Our Summer BAL no. 27: Schubert Trout Quintet

[verismissimo]

This arrived yesterday: http://www.mdt.co.uk/romantic-piano-...sics-4cds.html

It contains my first and only HIP recording of the Trout Quintet, which I've now listened to twice with great enjoyment.

My most immediate observation on the Trout is that the balance is much less piano-dominated than usual. It's a sweet sounding Salvatore Lagrassa (Vienna) of 1815.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Belatedly I have just checked my shelves and - after 40+ years of collecting - find there only two recordings (the Decca Curzon in an LP box of "Vienna Chamber Music" and the Melos in the recent Icon box). This despite having many, many recordings of the late quartets, string quintet, octet, etc. Note that I don't have any single disc versions, though as a student I did own a Classics for Pleasure/Supraphon one from (IIRC) Jan Panenka (not that great). And I can't say I've felt much need for any more, or to seek out 'the best recording'.

This to me says something about the work. It's, as it were, merely a divertimento where those others are symphonies. Who buys multiple versions of Mozart divertimentos even if they do so for symphonies or piano concertos?

[Retires behind sofa]

[verismissimo]

This to me says something about the work. It's, as it were, merely a divertimento where those others are symphonies. Who buys multiple versions of Mozart divertimentos even if they do so for symphonies or piano concertos?

[Retires behind sofa]

Play it again, Sam!