After a rapturous reception for our performance of Saint-Saëns’ piano quintet last year we continue our exploration of French Romantic piano music with a beautiful work by Louise Farrenc. A professor of piano for over thirty years at the Paris Conservatoire, Farrenc had connections with many of the great figures in musical history, and was also celebrated as a concert pianist and composer. ‘Les Trésors des Pianistes’ is an anthology of great works for the piano, edited by Farrenc and encompassing three centuries of music from across Europe. We complement Farrenc’s lyrical first piano quintet with one of Schubert’s charming early string quartets.

Program

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)

String quartet, no. 7 (D94) in D major

I. Allegro

II. Andante con moto

III. Menuetto—Trio

IV. Presto

Louise Farrenc (1805–1875)

Piano quintet no 1 in A minor, Op. 30

I. Allegro

II. Adagio non troppo

III. Scherzo (Presto)

IV. Finale (Allegro)

Artists

Rachael Beesley &Caroline Hopson (violin), Simon Oswell (viola), Daniel Yeadon (cello), Robert Nairn (double bass), Neal Peres Da Costa (Erard grand piano, Paris c.1869)