Elgar & Beach: Piano Quintets – Garrick Ohlsson, Takacs Quartet Hyperion

‘By way of the imposing nature of the resources—string quartet and piano—the approach to the genre is inevitably one of an epic nature, almost orchestral in its bold sound and texture, fluctuating between the intellectual demands of the symphony and the ‘competition’ of the grand concerto. Beach’s magisterial work, with its hugely demanding piano part, its plethora of thematic material and its coherent handling of form, meets both these conceptual demands (and which Ohlsson and the Takács Quartet serve with vivid colours and a vital energy) … the slow movement, one of Elgar’s greatest, is played with true profundity … Ohlsson and the Takács are to be congratulated for the warmth of their interpretation and for their ability to encompass the challenging range of Elgar’s complex moods’ (Gramophone)

‘This excellent release celebrates two glorious pieces for piano quintet with performances of unabashed élan. The Takács Quartet are renowned for the warmth and drama of their playing and could not be a better fit for such full-blooded works, while Garrick Ohlsson, a noted Chopin exponent, proves a similarly fine match in this generous, lyrical interpretation … with excellent recording quality throughout, this is in every respect an outstanding disc’ (BBC Music Magazine)


Piano Quintet in F sharp minor Op 67[27’51]Amy Beach (1867-1944)
1
Adagio – Allegro moderato[9’13]
2
Adagio espressivo[9’59]
3
Allegro agitato – Più lento – Tempo I – Adagio come I – Presto[8’39]

Piano Quintet in A minor Op 84[35’44]Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
4
Moderato – Allegro[13’28]
5
Adagio[11’31]
6
Andante – Allegro[10’45]

Amy Beach’s piano quintet proved a deservedly popular success in its early years. It makes a compelling—and surprising—match for Elgar’s own piano quintet: a late work contemporary with the cello concerto, and which inhabits the same emotional landscape.