Chamber Music

ENSEMBLE CONCERTANT FRANKFURT LUISI

The Ensemble Concertant regularly celebrates great successes with its extraordinary instrumental forces. Since George Onslow alone dedicated dozens of works to the string quartet plus double bass, the ensemble has espoused the music of this Anglo- French composer with special interest. MDG is now presenting a special edition of two long sold-out albums at an attractive price with works including the Piano Sextet, a concerto en miniature that took the Parisian salons by storm. Onslow composed the Piano Quintet op. 79bis during the middle years of the nineteenth century- when he was at the height of his popularity- in the famous and just as rare “Trout Quintet” instrumentation with double bass. However, Onslow pursued a path different from that of Schubert; here the virtuosity of the piano with its leaps, arpeggios, scales, octaves, and other daring technical deeds lets the other instruments know who is the boss. The Quintets for String Quartet and Double Bass- so to speak, Onslow’s specialty- reveal a master situated between classicism and romanticism. Marvelously sumptuous melodies in classical form breathe the romantic spirit but refrain from virtuosity for mere show. Instead, the works go straight to the heart and make it beat to the big sound supplied by the double bass and its profound foundation.

Price: $22.99