Schubert: Trout Quintet In A Major/Death And The Maiden

On this CD:

1. Quintet for piano, violin, viola, cello & double bass in A major ("Trout"), D. 667 (Op. posth. 114)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Ludwig Streicher, Atar Arad, Vienna Haydn Trio, Heinz Medjimorec, Michael Schnitzler, Walther Schulz

2. String Quartet No. 14 in D minor ("Death and the Maiden"), D. 810
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Shmuel Ashkenasi, Marc Johnson, Pierre Menard, Vermeer Quartet, Bernard Zaslav

Tracks:

Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished': Allegro moderato
Marche Militaire, Op. 51, No.1
Ave Maria
Serenade
Erlkonig
Rosamunde Overture
Impromptu In E-Flat Major, Op. 90, No. 2
Death And The Maiden String Quartet In D Minor: IV Presto
Moment Musical In F Minor Op. 94, No3
Trout Quintet For Piano & Strings In A Major: III Scherzo Presto
Symphony No. 9 In C Major 'The Great': I Andante - Allegro ma non troppo

Schubert: Trout Quintet, Death and the Maiden / Amadeus Quartet

Average customer rating:

Interpretative solvency!
Indelible
Fair purchase
heart-rending beauty
Two classics from 1958 and 1975, some fine and some not so fine moments

Schubert: Trout Quintet, Death and the Maiden / Amadeus Quartet
Norbert Brainin , Emil Grigoryevich Gilels , Martin Lovett , Peter Schidlof , Rainer Zepperitz , and Amadeus Quartet
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Schubert: String Quintet in C, D. 956
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Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7 / Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

ASIN: B000001GXF
Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

Quintet For Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello And Double Bass In A Major, 'The Trout' D 667: 1. Allegro vivace
Quintet For Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello And Double Bass In A Major, 'The Trout' D 667: 2. Andante
Quintet For Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello And Double Bass In A Major, 'The Trout' D 667: 3. Scherzo. Presto
Quintet For Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello And Double Bass In A Major, 'The Trout' D 667: 4. Thema. Andantino - Variazioni I-V - Allegretto
Quintet For Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello And Double Bass In A Major, 'The Trout' D 667: 5. Finale. Allegro giusto.
String Quartet In D Minor 'Death And The Maiden' D 810: 1. Allegro vivace
String Quartet In D Minor 'Death And The Maiden' D 810: 2. Andante con moto
String Quartet In D Minor 'Death And The Maiden' D 810: 3. Scherzo. Allegro molto
String Quartet In D Minor 'Death And The Maiden' D 810: 4. Presto

Customer Reviews:

Interpretative solvency!.......2007-06-05

The main virtue of Emil Gilels as colossal pianist was always ironically his main failure: his extreme coldness. But when he played with the Amadeus quartet, something inside him seemed to bright with radiant intensity and his temperament showed us his Dionysian side, a remarkable and not precisely his main landmark.

This was successfully what it happened with this remarkable version of the celebrated Quintet Op 144 best known as "The trout". Filled of nostalgic reminiscences and genuine Viennese flavor, they conveyed us the own core of this work.

"The Death and the Maiden" is beautifully performed although I think no one has been able to surmount two insurmountable historical achievements of a recent past: the first version belongs to the famous ensemble Konzerthaus of Vienna of the middle fifties and the other is performed by the famous ensemble Chiringilian.

My favorite Trout version until this date: Horzowski and the Julliard ensemble, although I recognize the memorable versions of Paul Badura Skoda, Andras Schiff, Clifford Curzon, Rudolf Serkin and Arthur Schnabel.

Indelible.......2007-02-05

This is one of my favorite recordings. A reissue of recordings made by the Amadeus many years ago, these are wonderful interpretations of 2 of the most beautiful works in the chamber literature. The sound quality may not be quite up to that possible with modern recording technology but the quality of playing is superb.

Fair purchase.......2007-01-10

I think the price it's fair: the sound quality is not perfect, but the price is cheap and both Death and the Maiden and the Trout are enjoyable. For whoever is missing them and does not want to spend to much this is a fair purchase.

heart-rending beauty.......2006-11-03

Lovely, but sound quality of this reissue not tops. Wonderful as additional CD to compare with other interpretations. Ultimately I prefer the Emersons.

Two classics from 1958 and 1975, some fine and some not so fine moments.......2006-08-23

DG has brought together, now on their "The Originals" collection, two recordings dating from different periods of the Amadeus quartet's recording career: in 1958, then the very early days of stereo, they rerecorded Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" which they had already committed to mono LP in 1953 (now in an "Original Masters" DG box). The "Trout" Quintet, recorded in 1975 with Emil Gilels (with bassist Rainer Zepperitz), is their second go at the piece (the first was with Hebzibah Menuhin on EMI in 1958, reissued on CD by EMI and Testament) and dates from their later years; the Gilels and Amadeus quartet encounter was a purely studio affair which before this recording had resulted in the Brahms 1st piano quartet.

The great thing about the opening "allegro vivace" (taken with its repeat) in particular and the "Trout" quintet in general is that Gilels and his partners do not let their interpretation be colored by any pre-conception of a "gemütlich", e.g. easy-going and genial Schubert. On the contrary, they give full weight and impact to the accents and piquant perkiness to the staccato markings, resulting in a reading of great vigor and zest. Gilels proves a fine chamber player, with crisp playing and a fine sense of balance with his partners.

Not so great, on the other hand, is the well-known and distinctive feature of the Amadeus quartet: namely, Norbert Brainin's thin violin tone and sometimes pitch uncertainty, Martin Lovett's dry cello emission and Peter Schidlof's nasal viola. This is especially penalizing in the 2nd movement's deeply moving viola & cello cantilena (1:30), which doesn't approach the gripping lyricism which others impart to it. The 3rd movement's Presto is brisk (though not as brisk as Curzon-Wiener Oktett members) but string tone is somewhat shrill; fortunately (and unlike the afore-mentioned Curzon-Wiener) the pace is maintained in the central trio, consequently avoiding the usual mawkishness. In the 4th movement's "Trout" theme, the tempo is somewhere in between Curzon's lively briskness and Serkin's more sedate deliberation, and the ensuing variations maintain a reasonably acceptable unity of tempo, with a lively and carefree coda; but violin tone retains a not entirely pleasant edge of shrillness. The Finale is nicely brisk, forward-moving and carefree, reminiscent of Serkin and Marlboro friends from 1967. All things considered, despite the slight discomfort of the Amadeus' tone production, this is a fine version of Schubert's piano quintet. Now, for more choices of "Trouts" recorded since 1975, see my reviews of the Beaux Arts Trio (Philips), Brendel-Cleveland (Philips), Richter-Borodine (EMI), Ax-Ma and partners (Sony), Badura-Skoda (Amiata), Adès-Belcea (EMI) among others.

The "Death and the Maiden" is early stereo and the sound is somewhat dry, not as full as that afforded by Boston Skyline's transfer to the Fine Arts quartet from 1962 (with the same coupling - see my review), but it is still quite acceptable and with no audible tape-hiss. Interpretively, the opening "Allegro" a little more spacious and slightly less biting than the Amadeus' earlier mono attempt, with a tendency to be a little finicky on small details - and of course in much better sound. As before, the opening D triplets are taken legato rather than the written staccato and rushed headlong into; then ensues a reading that is vigorous and dogged rather than fast and furious; it commendably avoids any mawkish prettifying of the second, lyrical theme, which is given instead a fine rhythmic snap on its further developments, though not as biting as in the earlier version. As in 1953, the famous "Death and the Maiden" theme (2nd movement) is taken at a forward-moving pace, true to Schubert's "andante con moto" indication, and tempo relationships in the ensuing variations are more coherent than before, with less "gas and breaks"; Martin Lovett's cello voices a profound and moving chant in the 2nd variation, and the 3rd variation sounds like the heavy and powerful canter of warhorses rather than like Death furiously whipping its steed. Where this 1958 remake varies most from its 1953 predecessor is in the Scherzo and Finale, where the Amadeuses now go for power and weight more than rage and fury, but the Scherzo's middle trio maintains a laudable unity of tempo and displays charm without mawkishness. Likewise the "Presto" Finale is more deliberate than five years before and elicits less of the sense of a race to the abyss - more of an unhurried - but inexorable? - canter.

One can think of more gripping "Death and the Maiden" quartets (see my reviews of the Hollywood Quartet-Testament, Juilliard-Testament, Alban Berg Quartet-EMI, Brodsky-Teldec, Petersen-Capriccio among others) but this one has nonetheless something of a classic poise.

Average customer rating:

inspired performance !!!

The Story of Schubert

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001KCT
Release Date: 1994-02-28

Tracks:

Rosamunde, D. 797: Overture
Mozart: String Quartet In B-Flat Major, K. 172
Marche Militaire, D. 733, No. 1
Hark, Hark, The Lark!, D. 889
Mass No. 5 In A-Flat Major, D. 678: Credo
Symphony No. 5 In B-Flat Major, D. 485: Allegro
Symphony No. 4 In C Minor, D. 417 'Tragic': Finale: Allegro
Moment Musicaux No. 3 In F Minor, D. 780
Piano Sonata In A Minor, D. 845: Moderato
The Erl King, D. 328
Symphony No. 2 In B-Flat Major, D. 125: Allegro
Symphony No. 6 In C Major, D. 589 'Little': Andante
Symphony No. 6 In C Major, D. 589 'Little': Scherzo
To Music, D. 547
The Trout, D. 550
Piano Quintet In A Major, D. 667 'Trout': Theme And Variations
Octet In F Major, D. 803: Finale
Impromptu In B-Flat Major, D. 935 No. 3
String Quintet In C Major, D. 956: Allegro ma non troppo
Wanderer Fantasy In C Major, D. 760
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor, D. 759 'Unfinished': Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 9 In C Major, D. 944 'Great': Andante-Allegro ma non troppo
Mass No. 6 IN E-Flat Major, D. 950: Gloria
String Quartet No. 14 In D Minor, D. 810 'Death And The Maiden': Andante con moto
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor, D. 759 'Unfinished': Andante
Ave Maria, D. 839
Symphony No. 5 In B-Flat Major, D. 485 (Complete): Allegro
Symphony No. 5 In B-Flat Major, D. 485 (Complete): Andante con moto
Symphony No. 5 In B-Flat Major, D. 485 (Complete): Menuetto: Allegro molto
Symphony No. 5 In B-Flat Major, D. 485 (Complete): Allegro vivace

Customer Reviews:

inspired performance !!!.......2001-09-02

this collection deserves more than 5 stars.peter maag and the philharmonica hungarica are in top form.this is the best ever of schubert's fifth and eigth i have ever listened to.it is not karl bohm or leonard bernstein or george szell or lorin maazel.
truly the hungarians inspired by maag easily beat all the other top orchestras.
the orchestral texture is transparent with a perfect balance among the string sections ,the woodwind and the brass sections.peter maag obviously loves this music and brings out the heavenly beauty ,the pathos and the monumental dramatic quality of these works.
just listen to schubert's fifth second movement which ends with a heart rending cello phrase.
it is a shame that the well established record companies have not thought it fit to record more of peter maag.in my opinion he is one of the greatest ever conductors.
i will not exchange these performances for any other!

Schubert: Trout Quintet; Death and the Maiden

Average customer rating:

Top-rate prformance of the Trout Quintet and very good performance of the string quartet, too

Schubert: Trout Quintet; Death and the Maiden

Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00016XMY4
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Tracks:

Allegro Vivace
Andante
Scherzo (Presto)
Theme And Variations: Andantino
Finale (Allegro Giusto)
Allegro
Andante Con Moto
Scherzo (Allegro Molto)
Presto

Customer Reviews:

Top-rate prformance of the Trout Quintet and very good performance of the string quartet, too.......2006-11-20

James Levine and the string players who perform the "Trout Quintet" do an excellent job at interpreting this work and getting though it without virtually any rough spots. (The only reason there would be is because it is a very hard work.) The quintet is a top Schubert chamber music piece. Different movements in the work contain sections of (vastly) contrasting characteristics and emotions, but it blends together very nicely to make a great (but, again, challenging) piece. String quartet #14, "Death and the maiden" is also a favorite Schubert piece and in this performance, the Melos Quartet displays their virtuousity as a great group. The recording quality is great, and the price is also excellent. If you buy this, you will be very happy that you did.

Tracks 1 - 5: Piano Quintet in A major, ("Trout")
Tracks 6 - 9: "Death and the maiden" String Quartet #14 in D minor
Total Time: 79:27

Average customer rating:

A convenient collection of good to excellent readings of 3 chamber music masterpieces, but beware of frustrating duplication

Schubert: Great Chamber Works
Franz Schubert , Beaux Arts Trio , Samuel Rhodes , Georg Maximilian Hortnagel , Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble , and Quartetto Italiano
Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001GAS50
Release Date: 2004-04-16

Tracks:

Piano Quintet In A Major - Allegro Vivace
Piano Quintet In A Major - Andante
Piano Quintet In A Major - Scherzo
Piano Quintet In A Major - Tema Con Variazioni
Piano Quintet In A Major - Finale
String Quartet No. 14 In D Minor - Death And The Maiden
Octet In F Major - Adagio - Allegro
Octet In F Major - Adagio
Octet In F Major - Allegro Vivace
Octet In F Major - Andante
Octet In F Major - Menuetto; Allegretto
Octet In F Major - Andante Molto - Allegro
Adagio In E Flat Major - Notturno

Customer Reviews:

A convenient collection of good to excellent readings of 3 chamber music masterpieces, but beware of frustrating duplication.......2006-12-15

Philips has brought together on the twofer from their mid-price "Duo" series good to excellent interpretations of three of Schubert's chamber music masterpieces : the "Death & the Maiden" string quartet recorded by the Quartetto Italiano in 1965, the "Trout" Quintet by the augmented Beaux-Arts trio, made in 1975 (shortly after the recording by Gilels and the Amadeus Quartet for DG - see my review) and the string and wind Octet by the Academy of Saint-Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, their first recording from 1977 (the made another one ten years later, for Chandos, albeit with only three members from the earlier ensemble). The beautiful Notturno, in the 1966 and first recording by the Beaux-Arts trio, serves as a lagniappe (it is also available on another fine "Duo", in a collection of Schubert's complete trios).

Of the three, the Academy's Octet is the best and remains, to this day, one of the best versions on modern instruments, and in my opinion much better than the Academy's Chandos remake (see my lengthy reviews of both under their respective full-price, original CD release). It is brisk and lively in the fast movements and highlighted by the fine instrumental colors of the winds, slow and meditative in the sublime "Adagio" (2nd movement) where Antony Pay's clarinet produces exquisitely hushed pianissimos. Its only (and not minor, in my opinion) flaw resides in the ensemble's unfortunate choice not to do the variations' repeats in the 4th movement (these repeats always have an architectural importance in Schubert's variation movements), added to the generally slow tempos and somewhat fussy phrasings adopted therein. Still, its availability on this favorably-priced twofer is very welcome, as the original CD issue has become difficult to find.

The Philips catalog is graced with many fine versions of the "Trout" Quintet, including Brendel's two recordings, and my personal favorite, with Ingrid Haebler and Arthur Grumiaux from 1966 (see my reviews). I've also reviewed the present recording by the Beaux Arts Trio, augmented of violist Samuel Rhodes and bassist Georg Hörtnagel, under its original CD release (paired with Beethoven's "Ghost" trio. It is now also available on a Pentatone SACD, with the not very coherent coupling of a Mozart clarinet quintet played by the Grumiaux Quintet from 1974). It is very good, expansive but muscular in the outer movements, forward-moving and almost sprightly in the "Andante" second movement. Violinist Isidore Cohen plays with warmth and charm, but Bernard Greenhouse has a slightly dry cello tonal production from the cello and Menahem Pressler's piano placement is slightly too forward and overbearing.

The Quartetto Italiano's reading of the "Death & the Maiden" is a classic. It is controlled and disciplined - maybe a little too much so - with great attention to architectural coherence and tempo consistency as well as to Schubert's myriad details of articulation and phrasings. Tempos are moderate, and the tension the Italianos elicit comes not from raging fury, as with ensembles such as the Capet Quartet in 1928, the Amadeus Quartet's first recording from 1953, the Emerson or Petersen Quartets among modern recordings, but from articulation and phrasings that are vigorous yet never at the expense of clarity and bounce. Their interpretation may be a little short on the sense of fury and despair that the above-mentioned recordings can produce, but it has something of a classic poise. Still, Philip's inclusion of it on this twofer was not necessarily the best choice, as it shows a disputable propensity to milk the cow: it is indeed, by my count, the 4th mid-price CD reissue of that classic recordings (search "Quartetto Italiano Schubert" for the others), which appears on another very desirable twofer from the Duo series with the ensemble's recordings of Schubert's late quartets, that the Schubert or Quartetto Italiano aficionado is likely to have. And that choice of Philips is all the more regrettable as the Italians' later, 1982 recording of "Death and the Maiden", in the ensemble's short-lived lineup with Dino Asciola replacing Elise Pegreffi as 2nd fiddler, is still, to the best of my knowledge, unreissued on CD.

Average customer rating:

One of the best of the Masterworks series
Will not buy this
Worth it!
Great way to jumpstart a schubert collection
Better to Pick a Few First-rate Performances

Schubert: The Masterworks [Box Set]

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00062FLJC
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

One of the best of the Masterworks series.......2007-07-06

Brilliant Classics' "Masterworks" series, if you can get them cheaply (and currently they go for about $1/CD from Amazon's France Web site), are a great way to amass a significant library of the works of several great computers. The production values and the performances themselves are uneven, and the interpretations are not always historically-informed (unlike the bulk of Brilliant's "Complete Editions" of the works of Bach and Mozart). But there are numerous gems in the rough in The Masterworks, and the economic value is unsurpassed, even if you were to throw away half of the CDs in each set.

You're unlikely to throw away much of this Schubert collection though. This seems to be the finest of the Masterworks sets, with a succession of solid, often first-rate performances of most of the major Schubert works. Here's what you get:

- The symphonies, performed by The Hanover Band in a historically-informed style. Very interesting performances perhaps marred by an odd recording balance that makes the woodwinds sound distant. Takes up four CDs
- The six Latin masses. Also the Deutsche Messe in the version with wind instruments. Five CDs in all
- Edison Denisov's completion of Schubert's unfinished dramatic work Lazarus (2 CDs, Helmuth Rilling's premier recording)
- The last four string quartets (including the Quartettsatz) with #9 thrown in. Also the octet, piano quintet ("The Trout"), string quintet and both piano trios. In short all the canonical chamber works. Performances are strong, and well recorded
- Two CDs of violin/piano duets, including Op. 137 and Op. 162
- 19 of the 21 "canonical" piano sonatas (missing #7 and #12) as well as the Moments Musicaux, Impromptus, German Dances, Wanderer Fantasy and several other piano works, 11 CDs in all. As with the chamber music, the performances and recordings are strong, often stunning
- Two CDs of piano duets, including the Divertissements and D. 617
- Song cycles: Die Schöne Müllerin, Winterreise, Schwanengesang, and four CDs of standalone songs, including such "standards" as Erlkönig and Gretchen am Spinnrade. The singers are a bit uneven here, ranging from standouts Robert Holl, Deitrich Fischer-Dieskau and John Shirley-Quirk to the somewhat shrill Arleen Augér

Missing from the collection is Rosamunde, and a number of famous songs: Die Forelle (The Trout), Death and the Maiden, Ellens Gesang III (the so-called Ave Maria, D. 839), Der Hirt auf dem Felsen and Der Wanderer. But you do have almost all the important instrumental works, and most of the vocal works generally considered to be essential, with some padding added in the form of minor works such as the parochial Deutsche Messe, the German Dances, and the modernist-informed completion of Lazarus by the 20th Century Russian composer Denisov.

As with the other Masterworks sets, there are no program notes. You'll need to do your own research. Answers.com is a good starting point for Schubert compositions. There are also no song texts or translations provided, so again you'll need to track down your own. Try "The Lied and Art Song Texts Page" for lieder lyrics and translations. Hunt down a good price on this collection, browsing one of Amazon's European sites if necessary, and treat yourself to many hours of lovely music for the cost of a modest night out.

Will not buy this.......2007-03-16

I can't see D965 or D945 on this 40 disks worth of Schubert. Bizarre! There are so many great songs missing it scares me.

Worth it!.......2006-12-19

One of the best in "The Masterpices" series. Many of the discs (the symphonies in particular) were licensed from Nimbus and other full-line labels. Not all that long ago these discs would have set you back $18 to $20 a piece. That said, I still wouldn't part with my Hyperion collection. 40 CD's at this price... you can't go wrong.

Great way to jumpstart a schubert collection.......2006-12-19

Hartmut Holl, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Stephanie Brown, and Jaime Laredo as well as the Stuttgart Bach Collegium performing Schubert are hardly "left-behind artists and ensembles" as the previous naysayer states. These are licensed from major label releases and from the original masters issued at a bargain price, especially for the number of discs you get. Sound quality ranges from good to excellent. Good for all Schubertians and anyone who wants to jumpstart a Schubert collection.

Better to Pick a Few First-rate Performances.......2006-11-14

This is a bargain in dollar/listening time ratio, but who cares? There are many second-rate performances by left-behind artists and ensembles. Obviously the economics of resurrecting disks that don't require royalties has been the driving factor of selection. (On the other hand, the complete edition boxed sets of Bach and Mozart, which you'll find if you look, are stupendous successes artistically.)

Schubert: Trout/Death & the Maiden Curzon & Vienna Octet

Average customer rating:

Great Chamber music from Vienna
a "trout" without much spice and a "Maiden's" quartet without "Death"

Schubert: Trout/Death & the Maiden Curzon & Vienna Octet
Franz Schubert , Clifford Curzon , Vienna Octet , and Wiener Philharmonisches Quartet
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00002MXN2
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Tracks:

Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': I Allegro vivace
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': II. Andante
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': III Scherzo: Presto
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': IV Theme & Variations: Andantino
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': V Finale: Allegro giusto
String Quartet In D Minor, D810 'Death And The Maiden': I Allegro
String Quartet In D Minor, D810 'Death And The Maiden': II Andante con moto
String Quartet In D Minor, D810 'Death And The Maiden': III Scherzo: Allegro molto
String Quartet In D Minor, D810 'Death And The Maiden': IV Rondo-Finale: Presto

Customer Reviews:

Great Chamber music from Vienna.......2007-05-11

Here are two classic accounts from the 1950s and 1960s of chamber works by Franz Schubert. Members of Willi Boskovsky's original Vienna Octet are partnered by the great English pianist, Clifford Curzon, in the famous 1958 "Trout" Quintet recording, a stereo remake of their earlier version with Walter Panhoffer; while the Vienna Philharmonic Quartet (led by Boskovsky) provides a highly compelling reading of the D minor "Death and the Maiden" quartet. In both works the Viennese players set a standard of chamber music playing with which other ensembles simply cannot compare. It is to do with their rhythm, articulation and sense of phrasing, all of which are uniquely Viennese. These recordings were highly celebrated in their day and remain as classics of the recorded chamber repertoire. Excellent sound by Decca in both recordings.

a "trout" without much spice and a "Maiden's" quartet without "Death".......2006-08-17

Though Amazon's information is scanty, this appears to be a cheap reissue of Decca 417 459-2, first issued on CD in 1988, which pairs two famed recordings: the "Trout" quintet by Clifford Curzon and members of the Wiener Oktett around 1st fiddler Willi Boskovksy from 1957, and the "Death and the Maiden" quartet issued in 1963 by the Wiener Philharmonisches Quartett, coupled then with Schubert's 10th quartet. Both ensemble stemmed from the Vienna Philharmonic and shared Willi Boskovsky as their 1st fiddler. See my review of the original Polygram CD issue for detailed commments (Schubert: Trout Quintet; Death and the Maiden).

These two recordings have enjoyed almost universal critics' approval since their first publication - and I don't agree. The quintet has good moments - its fourth movement, with its famous "Trout" theme and variations, is one of them, thanks to the lively tempo and carefree mood adopted by the musicians - but it lacks the kind of muscle and strong accentuation Serkin and Marlboro friends brought to it in 1967 (Schubert: Piano Quintet "Trout"; Mozart: Clarinet Quintet), or more recently partners gathered around Emmanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma (Schubert: Quintet, Op. 114 "The Trout" / Sonata, D. 821 "Arpeggione") or Thomas Adès and members of the Belcea Quartet (AdÃ¨s: Piano Quintet; Schubert: "Trout Quintet"). I refer you to my reviews of all these. 1st fiddler Willi Boskovsky easily wails and the mood is generally plaintive. If I may dare the image, at the hands of Curzon and the Vienna Octet it is more "the boys wooing girl" than "the boys setting out for a merry brawl".

Likewise the quartet has lots of "Maiden" but not much "Death", and the Wiener Philharmonishes Quartett is obviously more attuned to the piece's charm than to its gripping tension. Maybe that's what they call "viennese tradition", and it may have (or have had) its adepts - but if so it is the Vienna that neglected and misunderstood Schubert during his (all too short) lifetime.

There are better options for that specific coupling - although none that I have heard is entirely convincing. See my reviews for Gilels-Amadeus Quartet (Schubert: Trout Quintet, Death and the Maiden / Amadeus Quartet), Dame Moura Limpany and Gabrieli Quartet (Trout Quintet/Death & The Maiden), Frank Glazer-Fine Arts Quartet (Schubert: Trout Quintet/Death and the Maiden Quartet).

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Schubert: Chamber Masterpieces

Manufacturer: Vanguard Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 In B Flat Major, D.485: Allegro vivace
Impromptu In E Flat Major, D.899, No.2
Piano Quintet In A Major, D.667, 'Trout': Theme And Variations
Impromptu In G Flat Major, D.899, No. 3
Rosamunde, D.797: Ballet Music No. 2
Moment Musical, D.780, No. 3: Allegro moderato
String Quartet No. 14 In D Minor, D.810 'Death And The Maiden': Andante con moto
Moment Musical, D.780, No. 5: Allegro vivace
String Quintet In C Major, D. 956: Adagio
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor, D.759, 'Unfinished': Allegro moderato