Schubert: Trout Quintet (2004)

This 2004 Virgin CD of Schubert's Piano Quintet in A major, "Trout," appears merely to be a vehicle to promote the label's roster of rising talents, and questions about this apparently ad hoc ensemble's cohesiveness and cooperation may well be raised. It is clear that pianist Frank Braley dominates the proceedings as the leader and that the strings are unfocused, poorly balanced, and ill-equipped to stand up to his big sound. When Braley periodically pulls back, the Capuçon brothers -- violinist Renaud and cellist Gautier - ... Read More

This 2004 Virgin CD of Schubert's Piano Quintet in A major, "Trout," appears merely to be a vehicle to promote the label's roster of rising talents, and questions about this apparently ad hoc ensemble's cohesiveness and cooperation may well be raised. It is clear that pianist Frank Braley dominates the proceedings as the leader and that the strings are unfocused, poorly balanced, and ill-equipped to stand up to his big sound. When Braley periodically pulls back, the Capuçon brothers -- violinist Renaud and cellist Gautier -- are the most prominent players; but violist Gérard Caussé is much less audible and double-bassist Alois Posch is sometimes only heard as an indistinct rumble. Yet as out of balance and spotty as this "Trout" is, the strings at least err on the side of restraint, and the results are not as egregious as they might have been had they tried to outshine each other. Even so, this performance is still unsatisfactory for Braley's prominence and the group's irregularities and occasional... Read Less