Mozart: String Quintets 1-6
The Nash Ensemble plays all six of Mozart’s string quintets on this CD collection. This includes the early B flat work K174, and the C minor quintet K406 that is an arrangement of the wind serenade in the same key. These two works form an introduction to four masterpieces that follow on the later discs.
With Lawrence Power as the Nash Ensemble’s viola player and Philip Dukes joining him to perform the second viola part, there’s no chance of forgetting that Mozart favored a quintet of strings with two violas rather than the lineup with two cellos. Power’s and Duke’s abilities to bring the lush viola sounds to life is constantly in evidence in these masterpieces.
Of particular note is the fact that every player contributes his/her part, so that every Mozart phrase seems freshly composed. And that’s the magic of fine Mozart performances!
The tracks on this CD are:
Disc: 1
1. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 1 in B flat major (‘String Quintet No. 1’), K. 174: Allegro moderato
2. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 1 in B flat major (‘String Quintet No. 1’), K. 174: Adagio
3. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 1 in B flat major (‘String Quintet No. 1’), K. 174: Menuetto ma allegretto – Trio
4. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 1 in B flat major (‘String Quintet No. 1’), K. 174: Allegro
5. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 2 in C minor (‘String Quintet No. 2’), K. 406 (K. 516b): Allegro
6. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 2 in C minor (‘String Quintet No. 2’), K. 406 (K. 516b): Andante
Disc: 2
1. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 3 in C major (‘String Quintet No. 3’), K. 515: Allegro
2. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 3 in C major (‘String Quintet No. 3’), K. 515: Menuetto: Allegretto – Trio
3. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 3 in C major (‘String Quintet No. 3’), K. 515: Andante
4. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 3 in C major (‘String Quintet No. 3’), K. 515: Allegro
5. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 4 in G minor (‘String Quintet No. 4’), K. 516: Allegro
6. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 4 in G minor (‘String Quintet No. 4’), K. 516: Menuetto: Allegretto – Trio
Disc: 3
1. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 5 in D major (‘String Quintet No. 5’), K. 593: Larghetto – Allegro – Larghetto
2. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 5 in D major (‘String Quintet No. 5’), K. 593: Adagio
3. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 5 in D major (‘String Quintet No. 5’), K. 593: Menuetto: Allegretto – Trio
4. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 5 in D major (‘String Quintet No. 5’), K. 593: Allegro
5. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 6 in E flat major (‘String Quintet No. 6’), K. 614: Allegro di molto
6. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 6 in E flat major (‘String Quintet No. 6’), K. 614: Andante
While I could not locate a video with the Nash Ensemble, here is another group:
Quartetto Stradivari playing Quintet with two violas KV 515 in C
Mozart, string quintets, Nash Ensemble