Franz Schubert - Forellian Quintet - Helmchen - PentaTone Classics 5186 334 (2009) SACD rip via PS3 to iso (3.58GB) | 24bit/88.2kHz flac Mch (2.58GB) (+4.4dB gain) | 2ch (1.12GB) DR14 (+5.47dB gain) | Classical The Trout Quintet is the popular name for the Piano Quintet in A major by Franz Schubert. In Otto Erich Deutsch's catalogue of Schubert's works, it is D. 667. The work was composed in 1819, when Schubert was 22 years old; it was not published, however, until 1829, a year after his death. MWC says: Sorry for not always pointing out when it is a DSD recording, as this one is. ------------------------------------------------------ Yes, it sounds crazy to make yet another recording of Schubert's Trout Quintet a "reference recording", particularly given the number of really good ones already in circulation. Never mind. There is no finer performance available, & certainly none better recorded: gorgeous, perfectly natural sound whether in regular stereo or SACD surround-sound. So what makes this performance so special? 1st, & speaking generally, this has got to be 1 of the most shapely, elegant, & effortlessly flowing versions ever committed to disc. Every phrase breathes, but in such a way that the character of the line always supports what the music seems to want to do. The "interpretation" simply dissolves into the pure experience of Schubert. Getting down to specifics, listen to the marvelously conversational exchanges between violinist Christian Tetzlaff & pianist Martin Helmchen in the opening movement, & the amazingly perfect intonation of all of the string players. Then there's the perfect balance of Alois Posch's double bass, & the wonderful, dreamy quality of the initial presentation of the "Trout" theme in the 4th movement. The players' wide dynamic range lets them wring every drop of energy from the finale without ever forcing the tone, & it's impossible to overpraise Helmchen's sensitivity in both his solo & accompanying roles. The couplings prove equally inspired, offering the sort of variety that makes this disc ideal for continuous listening. Usually we encounter the "Trockne Blumen" Variations on flute discs, where they either obliterate the inferior junk that accompanies them, or make you want to scream from the aural fatigue of hearing so much other flute music (let's face it: a little goes a long way). Here they make a refreshing contrast, with Aldo Baerten's soft-toned wooden flute marrying beautifully to Helmchen's elegant keyboard artistry. Yes, Baerten breathes a bit heavily from time to time, but it's not really bothersome. With the lovely Notturno an apt & mellow encore, this is surely 1 of the great Schubert chamber music recordings. You'll love it. [4/29/2009] -- ClassicsToday.com, David Hurwitz, April 29, 2009 Allmusic review: With hundreds of recorded performances of Schubert's "Trout" Quintet available, what is it that distinguished this 2009 PentaTone disc from the rest? Partially the playing, partially the couplings, & partially the sound. Played by pianist Martin Helmchen, violinist Christian Tetzlaff, violist Antoine Tamestit, cellist Marie Elisabeth Hecker, & double bassist Alois Posch, this "Trout" is light, lively, & lyrical, with a singing tone, a smiling interpretation, & a vivacious feeling for rhythm. The players are 1st-rate by themselves & outstanding as an ensemble, with a tight but relaxed grasp of form & an intuitive sense of tempo. The couplings here are rather unusual: the Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute & piano & the Notturno for piano trio, the former receiving a polished & appealing account by pianist Helmchen with wooden flutist Aldo Baerten & the latter getting a broadly paced but beautifully sculpted reading by Helmchen, Tetzlaff, & Hecker. The SACD sound by the Dutch PentaTone label is so realistic one cannot only hear Baerten breathe, one can almost smell the wood of his flute. Longtime listeners may already have their favorite recordings of the "Trout" Quintet, but by virtue of the playing, the couplings, & the sound, this 1 deserves to be at least sampled. SA-CD.net reviews here: http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/5787 On Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Franz-Schubert-Quintet-Variations-Notturno/dp/B001QUL7A0 Tracks: 01 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Allegro vivace. 02 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Andante. 03 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Scherzo - Presto. 04 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Theme (Andantino... 05 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Allegro giusto.flac 06 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802. 07 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802. 08 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802. 09 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802. 10 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802. 11 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802. 12 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802. 13 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802. 14 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802. 15 - Piano Trio (Notturno) in E flat, D.897 Adagio. Musicians: Martin Helmchen, Chistian Tetzlaff (violin) Antoine Tamestit (viola) Marie-Elisabeth Hecker (cello) Alois Posch (double bass) Aldo Baerten (flute) ------------------------------------------------------ Checksum for iso: 5f47d84ad0b77f04e56430ecf6e14f59 *Martin Helmchen, piano - Schubert Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet & Varia.iso Checksums for flac tracks Mch: 5ae0f54d749c72fa0f4a0c85d830faf8 *01 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Allegro vivace.flac 62a1ee074099dd1acbdb99e39ce5ca0a *02 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Andante.flac 79a02f69f1ac86390d84c497e9993faa *03 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Scherzo - Presto.flac 3b1f8e2e771c593ed8811dbd0ac935e0 *04 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Theme (Andantino.flac 0775a76c7c33654142b0f1c3bc71ffe9 *05 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Allegro giusto.flac 16c9bdb3c9ba937f5d5851b31b098eb0 *06 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 2bc2f3e153aabc99d045b7892d61c855 *07 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac e748775d8bb9d97ca19f732c6011bf7f *08 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 1777c43f157035a75a86b9b914b28ccf *09 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 12453d1a42e3bd2d8bf72ce30cedccf6 *10 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 3a86a258bfa1f871bb825eecfbd2ae5d *11 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 7e45eaf406011c9fcaf0fe143206d459 *12 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac d71c59f4dda546051a6cd15a05eb89da *13 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac fb7e488ef867bfcb227f6dda23fa69d9 *14 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 90719e5dd5eaf30576f48823a3dda601 *15 - Piano Trio (Notturno) in E flat, D.897 Adagio.flac Checksums for flac tracks 2ch: 799c62437622f9b50a14a5d4b4e8b656 *01 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Allegro vivace.flac 2e903227e9ee53946d71344c70d71e69 *02 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Andante.flac 9ce46ffda2fb03b5f3dcba7e7892aeb2 *03 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Scherzo - Presto.flac 91f90966fddba86eb5e27054cafaf79b *04 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Theme (Andantino.flac e99cea0b023d4bf1ca63fe4b63e54657 *05 - Piano Quintet in A, D.667 - Trout Quintet Allegro giusto.flac 6501bc33d9866a90bf8f3a0b18e7f6cd *06 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 86947736c2e0a5184c4fbe51fc89be17 *07 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 371259741eac6a88a519a3ecaf74f186 *08 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 4daa9ce54c18afc7f2f6b4255848e07c *09 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 2a41a27e86596a59a269d4e205f72998 *10 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac cb6ab5cdbcf88a72f3560b576c5edf63 *11 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 2913978033e172a5d762d9753d6d163c *12 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 36c6c3cf8c28e99a04cc99fa273276ee *13 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac c3ec00b6871762792ab3d76e5583fcde *14 - Variations on Trockne Blumen for flute and piano, D.802.flac 2cec7b197ea9eb1e7897bfc54e93810c *15 - Piano Trio (Notturno) in E flat, D.897 Adagio.flac