Think of composer Jean Sibelius and chamber music -- particularly piano quintets -- is not likely to be the first type of composition to spring to mind. This is regrettable as Sibelius wrote a great deal of successful chamber music and seemed to have a knack for the piano quintet in particular, an ensemble that can be somewhat problematic. This album, with the exception of A Lonely Ski Trail, features very early works in Sibelius' output. The G minor Piano Quintet is certainly the highlight of the album. The five-movement ...
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Think of composer Jean Sibelius and chamber music -- particularly piano quintets -- is not likely to be the first type of composition to spring to mind. This is regrettable as Sibelius wrote a great deal of successful chamber music and seemed to have a knack for the piano quintet in particular, an ensemble that can be somewhat problematic. This album, with the exception of A Lonely Ski Trail, features very early works in Sibelius' output. The G minor Piano Quintet is certainly the highlight of the album. The five-movement work is quite dark and at times even grave. Although individual movements of the quintet were highly regarded, a complete performance was never given during the composer's lifetime. The ensemble heard here succeeds in delivering a truly symphonic sound to the quintet. Although at times a little bright for such a brooding work, clarity would likely suffer if the strings were any warmer. Despite the sometimes thick part-writing, balance is generally quite good. Intonation, for the most...
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