Pellegrini Quartet, Ravinia Trio, Benedikt Koehlen - Schnabel: String Quartet No. 5, String Trio & 7 Piano Pieces (2005)

Tracklist

01. String Quartet No. 5: I. Allegro
02. String Quartet No. 5: II. Vivace ma non troppo
03. String Quartet No. 5: III. Adagio molto
04. String Quartet No. 5: IV. Presto
05. String Trio, Op. 30: I. Allegretto ma non troppo
06. String Trio, Op. 30: II. Larghetto
07. String Trio, Op. 30: III. Moderato ed energico
08. 7 Piano Pieces: No. 1, Largo
09. 7 Piano Pieces: No. 2, Allegretto
10. 7 Piano Pieces: No. 3, Andantino
11. 7 Piano Pieces: No. 4, Agitato vivace
12. 7 Piano Pieces: No. 5, Lento
13. 7 Piano Pieces: No. 6, Vivace
14. 7 Piano Pieces: No. 7, Epilogue. Comodo sereno

Like Rachmaninov, Artur Schnabel thought of himself as a composer who made his living as a pianist. Unlike Rachmaninov, Schnabel never achieved fame as a composer; indeed, few of the millions of listeners who know and love Schnabel's recordings of Beethoven's piano sonatas know or care about Schnabel's three symphonies, his five string quartets, his many other chamber works, his piano works, or his early songs. This disc from CPO features three works from Schnabel's American period, the last decade of his life: the Fifth String Quartet (1940), the Piano Trio (1945), and the Seven Piano Pieces (1946-1947). Schnabel's music is melodiously atonal; harmonically, vigorously intellectual; and structurally and passionately restrained emotionally. At least in these performances, it is a highly appealing and deeply engaging combination. The Pellegrini-Quartett, the Ravinia Trio, and pianist Benedikt Koehlen all play with supple expression, sensitive balances, and strong rhythms, letting Schnabel's music sound like a less neurotic Berg, a more attractive Schoenberg, or a more accessible Webern. While not perhaps for every listener, Schnabel's music will at least be of interest to anyone who enjoys Krenek or Hindemith. CPO's sound is deep and warm, but a bit dry.

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