Dvorak: Piano Quintet Op.87 & Schumann: Piano Quintet Op.44

Schumann’s Piano Quintet, composed in the autumn of 1842, was one of the earliest examples of the combination of piano with a string quartet – Boccherini, Dussek and Hummel had each produced one, and Schubert used the double bass in his ‘Trout’ Quintet. It instantly became one of Schumann’s most popular works. It was composed at a time of almost feverish industry – he composed his three string quartets Op.41, the Piano Quartet and a set of Fantasy Pieces for piano trio, all in 1842. The piano quintet is a captivating, almost spontaneous work, and is a brilliant example of Schumann’s inspiration from start to finish.

Dvorák’s Op.81 Piano Quintet stems from his attempt to revise an earlier piano quintet in A major from 1872. Dissatisfied with this work, he set upon composing a new one: the result composed in September 1887 is one of his most lovable works. A relentlessly sunny work, sometimes sentimental, always masterful.

highly assured performances of these two marvellous chamber works…this warmly recorded performance is most compelling when Schumann explores the extrovert side of his musical personality…While there are some caveats about the Schumann, the Biss/Elias partnership produces a wonderful performance of the Dvorak, conveying not only the freshness of its invention but also probing darker melancholic undercurrents. — BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2012