Schmidt Clarinet Quintet
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Franz Schmidt
Label: Marco Polo
Magazine Review Date: 10/1992
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 60
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 8 223414

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Quintet for Clarinet and Piano Quartet No. 2 |
Franz Schmidt, Composer
Aladár Jánoska, Clarinet Alexander Lakatos, Viola Daniela Rusó, Piano Franz Schmidt, Composer Ján Slávik, Cello Stanislav Mucha, Violin |
Author: Robert Layton
Schmidt's A major Quintet for clarinet, piano and strings is an original and thoughtful work in five movements, one of which is for piano alone. No doubt the fact that it was written with the left-handed Paul Wittgenstein in mind accounts for the latter. The piano part was subsequently re-arranged by Friedrich Wuhrer for both hands, in which form it is recorded here. In all it takes about an hour and is seldom if ever encountered in the concert hall, though its finale, a set of variations on a theme by Josef Labor, is occasionally played on its own. (Indeed, on their Decca LP of the G major Piano Quintet, the Vienna Philharmonia Quartet with Eduard Mrazek recorded it as a fill-up—5/76, nla). The work has a fantasy and nobility that recalls such figures as Elgar and Suk, and there is a strong debt to Reger. The fourth movement even suggests late Brahms.
The Quintet appeared some years ago in a very good performance by the Vienna Kammermusiker from Preiser (dating from 1984), but this newcomer by Slovak artists is not its inferior either as a performance or recording. The clarinettist, Aladar Janowska may not always be quite as imaginative as Christoph Eberle on Preiser, but there is not a great deal to choose between them and the Slovaks have the benefit of fresher recorded sound. Both versions are too closely balanced to be ideal and the piano looms larger in the aural picture in the slow movement (not sustaining the illusion of a complete performance). Though there is not quite enough back-to-front perspective, too much should not be made of this; the players are sensitive and the recording more than serviceable. Recommended in preference to the Viennese account listed above.'
The Quintet appeared some years ago in a very good performance by the Vienna Kammermusiker from Preiser (dating from 1984), but this newcomer by Slovak artists is not its inferior either as a performance or recording. The clarinettist, Aladar Janowska may not always be quite as imaginative as Christoph Eberle on Preiser, but there is not a great deal to choose between them and the Slovaks have the benefit of fresher recorded sound. Both versions are too closely balanced to be ideal and the piano looms larger in the aural picture in the slow movement (not sustaining the illusion of a complete performance). Though there is not quite enough back-to-front perspective, too much should not be made of this; the players are sensitive and the recording more than serviceable. Recommended in preference to the Viennese account listed above.'
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.

Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
Subscribe
Gramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.