Schmid . Weinmeister . Tomter . Viersen . Wispelwey

How could Schubert have possibly managed to amass so many unrivalled masterpieces in the last year of his life when he was so seriously ill and plagued with depression? It is one of the great mysteries of music history. In the last few months of Schubert's life his creative power seemed inexhaustible. Along with three large piano sonatas, D958-960, and the songs from 'Schwanengesang', he also managed to scribble down the monumental String Quintet in C major. Seldom has music with so many contrasts and such a broad range of expression been written. Transcendent, breathtaking passages and moments of almost complete stillness alternate with vehement temperamental outbursts. Music which leaves nobody unmoved and elicits the admiration of many composers. Sergej Tanejev (1856-1915) is relatively unknown but was by no means a minor contributor to Russian musical life. He was a close friend of Tchaikovsky's, for instance, and as a pianist he gave the Russian premiere of Brahms' First Piano Concerto. Moreover, he is regarded as one of the foremost Russian composers of chamber music. Making the acquaintance of his String Quintet should turn out to be an enjoyable encounter.