Mannheimer Quartet - Max Reger - Chamber Music Vol. 5: Piano Quartet Op. 113 / Serenade Op. 141a (1996)

We round off this survey with the Piano Quartet op 113 (47.04). Its passionate auburn turbulence too often plunges into the mire of density - relenting occasionally but not often enough. The scherzo is flashy and Mephistophelean - but not a trace of Wedding Cake caprice. As expected (by now!) the larghetto is 'himmliche' - like the middle movement of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto while the finale's lurching splendour suggests a homage to Brahms (Piano Concerto No. 1) in the allegro energico.
The Serenade for two violins is not at all academic. Rather it breezes out of a world of wind-blown leaves with another tranced Schubertian larghetto (a still small voice but with a chill in air) and a Mozartian presto. The other Serenade has a vivace of Mozartian pastiche, a typically strong big larghetto of reflective poise (a movement almost twice as long as the outer movements) and a humorous presto borne on ponderous wings.