Quintet for Piano and Winds

×

Expand

Image courtesy of L'Auditori

This concert introduces us to two closely related works, full of luminosity, ingenuity and expressiveness. The quintet for piano and wind instruments may be an unusual formation, but it has an exceptionally well-balanced combination of timbres that favor a rich dialogue between the instruments.

Mozart pioneered this formation with his Quintet K. 452, a work he himself considered one of his finest creations. With graceful writing full of complicity between piano, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn, Mozart achieves a perfect balance of lyricism and virtuosic brilliance. Fascinated by this piece, Beethoven composed his Quintet Op. 16 following the same model and in the same key, E-flat major. Although the piano takes center stage, the music retains a serene melodic quality, far removed from the heightened tensions and violent emotions of later works, while simultaneously creating a dialogue between two remarkable composers in a program that showcases the beauty and balance of this exceptional instrumental combination.

Program

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Quintet for Piano and Winds in E flat, K. 452 (1784) 23’
• Ludwig Van Beethoven: Quintet for Piano and Winds in E flat, op. 16 (1796) 25’

For more music events check our online events calendar.