Schubertiad

This disk contains the two noted masterpieces of Schubert's chamber music, the Trout piano quintet and the Death and the Maiden sring quartet. The performers on the Trout quintet are a pick up group led by James Levine on piano, whereas Death and the Maiden is played by the established Hagen Quartet. both are fine performances, Levine is better known as a conductor esepcially of opera but he also is a noted chamber collaborator when the chance arises. The Trout is a joyfully sunny piece full of life and delight in nature. Crammed with tunes, it is a piece that it is easy to be seduced by and was perfect for those evening gathering of friends known as Schubertiads. Death and the Maiden is altogether different, composed late when Schubert suspected he was mortally ill. Based on an earlier song in which Death courts a young girl, it is a more serious angst driven work but even here, it finishes with some sense of optimism, sadly not realised in real life, that troubles and illness can be danced away. There is no doubt that the early demise of Schubert was just as big a loss to the world of music as that of Mozart.