A delightful prospect: to compare and contrast this pair of radiant Quintets for piano and winds. A work of ‘maturity’ – the twenty-eight-year-old Mozart considered it “among his best” – and a ‘youthful effort’ penned by Beethoven at 26. Dating from an auspicious phase in each composer’s career, both pieces met with an enthusiastic reception. Their unapologetically theatrical character is not lost on the high-spirited virtuosos who make up the period-instrument Dialoghi Ensemble, heard here in its harmonia mundi début.
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART [1756-1791]Quintet for piano and winds K 452
E-flat major / Mi bémol Majeur / Es-Dur
· I. Largo – Allegro moderato (10’22)
· II. Larghetto (8’20)
· III. Rondo. Allegretto (5’56)
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN [1770-1827]Quintet for piano and winds op. 16
E-flat major / Mi bémol Majeur / Es-Dur
· I. Grave. Allegro ma non troppo (13’32)
· II. Andante cantabile (6’47)
· III. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo (6’06)