Alfred Schnittke: Piano Quintet · Piano Trio (2005)

“

One of Schnittke’s masterpieces, the Piano Quintet was written following the death of the composer’s mother. It covers a wide range of emotions, now despairing, now somewhat mock-happy in the manner of Shostakovich, and ultimately landing on a plain of transcendence that is almost childlike in its imagery. The Quintet begins with a mournful piano solo, that later escalates into a repeated note that sounds more dire with each repetition. To my ears, this is grief incarnate, a driven, almost senseless cry for the pain to stop. On the other hand, in the Piano Trio, the ghosts of Beethoven and Schubert hang in the air from the very first chord, albeit swirling around with Schnittke’s more piquant harmonies. This is one of the composer’s most clear experiments with what sound like Baroque cadences, but of course with his characteristic astringency. —Bruce Hodges

”

Tracklist

Piano Trio (1992)

1. Moderato
2. Adagio

Piano Quintet

3. Moderato
4. In Tempo Di Valse
5. Andante
6. Lento
7. Moderato Pastorale


Barbican Trio
Gaby Lester, violin
Robert Max, cello
James Kirby, piano

with Jan Peter Schmolck (violin on Quintet)
and James Boyd (viola on Quintet)

Recorded 6 August and 23 November 2000 at St. Georges, Brandon Hill, Bristol
Black Box Classics: BBM1093