Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 1 in B flat major ('String Quintet No. 1'), K. 174: 1. Allegro moderato
2. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 1 in B flat major ('String Quintet No. 1'), K. 174: 2. Adagio
3. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 1 in B flat major ('String Quintet No. 1'), K. 174: 3. Menuetto ma allegretto
4. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 1 in B flat major ('String Quintet No. 1'), K. 174: 4. Allegro
5. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 2 in C minor ('String Quintet No. 2'), K. 406 (K. 516b): 1. Allegro
6. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 2 in C minor ('String Quintet No. 2'), K. 406 (K. 516b): 2. Andante
7. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 2 in C minor ('String Quintet No. 2'), K. 406 (K. 516b): 3. Menuetto in canone
8. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 2 in C minor ('String Quintet No. 2'), K. 406 (K. 516b): 4. Allegro

Disc 2:

1. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 3 in C major ('String Quintet No. 3'), K. 515: 1. Allegro
2. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 3 in C major ('String Quintet No. 3'), K. 515: 2. Andante
3. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 3 in C major ('String Quintet No. 3'), K. 515: 3. Menuetto. Allegretto
4. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 3 in C major ('String Quintet No. 3'), K. 515: 4. Allegro
5. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 4 in G minor ('String Quintet No. 4'), K. 516: 1. Allegro
6. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 4 in G minor ('String Quintet No. 4'), K. 516: 2. Menuetto. Allegretto
7. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 4 in G minor ('String Quintet No. 4'), K. 516: 3. Adagio ma non troppo
8. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 4 in G minor ('String Quintet No. 4'), K. 516: 4. Adagio - Allegro

Disc 3:

1. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 5 in D major ('String Quintet No. 5'), K. 593: 1. Larghetto - Allegro
2. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 5 in D major ('String Quintet No. 5'), K. 593: 2. Adagio
3. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 5 in D major ('String Quintet No. 5'), K. 593: 3. Menuetto. Allegretto
4. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 5 in D major ('String Quintet No. 5'), K. 593: 4. Allegro
5. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 6 in E flat major ('String Quintet No. 6'), K. 614: 1. Allegro di molto
6. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 6 in E flat major ('String Quintet No. 6'), K. 614: 2. Andante
7. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 6 in E flat major ('String Quintet No. 6'), K. 614: 3. Menuetto. Allegretto
8. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 6 in E flat major ('String Quintet No. 6'), K. 614: 4. Allegro

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #133430 in Music
• Released on: 1991-03-08
• Number of discs: 3

Amazon.com essential recording
Arthur Grumiaux's performances of Mozart, whether of the violin concertos, the sonatas, or various chamber pieces with violin, were marked by patrician elegance and an unfailing sense of style. For this 1973 recording of the string quintets, arguably the summit of Mozart's chamber output, Grumiaux surrounded himself with musicians of a similar stripe, and the result remains among the treasures of the catalog. By today's standards, the performances may sound just a bit laid-back and relaxed, but the ensemble is marvelous, and the beauty of tone Grumiaux and company achieved in these readings has rarely been approached on disc since. The analog recording is splendid. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

This set is essential
The string quintets are without a doubt masterworks, and Grumiaux et al. show how they're supposed to be played for all time. Amen.

Grumiaux's the man!
Sometimes I prefer Mozart's chamber music to all of his other music, but I always prefer Grumiaux. You don't want to buy the String Quintets by any old ensemble, no no... I think it will be quite some time before we hear these pieces played as well. I also love Grumiaux's handling of the Violin & Viola Duos. Highly recommended.

Touch of the Master's Hand
Being a young musician tackling the c minor quintet in my senior year of high school, you always search for recordings of the masters to hear their interpretations of certain pieces. By an act of the supernatural, I stumbled across this one. Sheer excellence, wonderful phrasing, and awesome lyricism filled the studio when there musicians got together. The chemistry that was between them is definately felt as you listen to these quintets. I am not a big Mozart fan but these quintets are some of his finest works next to his sacred works. Grumiaux was a wonderful violinist and interpreter of the masters. This recording gave me and my quintet wonderful insight and tons of inspiration as to how these pieces should be played. Truly, those pieces were touched by the hands of the masters as they performed and recorded these works.