A Cover of Confusion

At first I thought the cover was ice chunks in the sea, then sand dollars, and my wife offered paint dollops...
Once you see it for what it is, grainy fish seem an odd choice, but I think the Explore Records label has many images such as this.

It really has no bearing on the music, but cover images are often the first connection of inspiration with the music consumer, so I will often comment upon the choices.

Berwald's Piano Quintets have many possibilities. The piano portion is bombastically proportioned, so it needs no help, other than a very accomplished player. But I wish the string quartets would go all in with Berwald's Romanticism, particularly the cello; ensembles tend to underplay this music, and I think it is a disservice.

I don't think there is a definitive set of complete Piano Quintets from Berwald yet. Vienna is my favorite of what is available, yet I like that the Uppsala Chamber Group on Naxos gives a different interpretation altogether. They sound more stark and take the music at a more measured pace.

The Piano Quintet 1 in C minor is the masterpiece though, and as I observe in the review below, the opening completely sweeps me away and I hold on until the end. Hopefully you too!

A review from 2024

This performance of Berwald’s two Piano Quintets played by the Vienna Philharmonic Quintet (VPQ) has been reissued a number of times since its original release in 1975. This one on Explore Records with the grainy fish cover, and one on Big Ben with the trees are the most recent.

The first Piano Quintet is Berwald’s most popular, and it is understandable. The first movement really just sweeps the listener away at its start, and it is captivating. Piano Quintet 2 doesn’t have quite the pull of the first, nor do I think these players lean into it enough, but it is all pleasant, as is usually the case with Berwald’s music.

The piano is the big star in these works. Constant motion and often big, majestic gestures rule the day throughout their runtime. The string quartet is balanced well against the piano; only the pizzicato is unusually hushed.

The Vienna Philharmonia Quintet play more Romantically than the Uppsala Chamber Ensemble on Naxos, who sound rather stark in comparison, yet I don’t think Vienna digs deep enough into this music, except for perhaps the piano. Vienna certainly contains swifter timings of the two works, although Naxos has the addition of two discarded movements as filler.

Recommended, with hopes for an even finer set of the two Piano Quintets for the future. As it is, the VPQ play sweetly and offer this music valid performances.

Works
Piano Quintet 1 in C minor, op. 5 (22.38)
Piano Quintet 2 in A Major, op. 6 (28.20)

Ensemble
Vienna Philharmonic Quintett

Label: Explore
Year: 2006
Total Timing: 51.11

 

 

I do have the best wishes for a truly great recording of these works to come around in the future. Someone just needs to go at this music.

As it is, I like these performances well enough, and they are wonderful to get to know.

Find more Berwald recordings HERE!