Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 4 in G minor ('String Quintet No. 4'), K. 516: Allegro
2. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 4 in G minor ('String Quintet No. 4'), K. 516: Menuetto & Trio, Allegretto
3. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 4 in G minor ('String Quintet No. 4'), K. 516: Adagio ma non troppo
4. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 4 in G minor ('String Quintet No. 4'), K. 516: Adagio
5. Adagio and Fugue for string quartet (or string orchestra) in C minor, K. 546: Adagio
6. Adagio and Fugue for string quartet (or string orchestra) in C minor, K. 546: Fuga (Allegro)
7. Clarinet Quintet in A major ('Stadler'), K. 581: Allegro
8. Clarinet Quintet in A major ('Stadler'), K. 581: Larghetto
9. Clarinet Quintet in A major ('Stadler'), K. 581: Menuetto & Trio I, II
10. Clarinet Quintet in A major ('Stadler'), K. 581: Allegro con Variazioni

Disc 2:

1. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 5 in D major ('String Quintet No. 5'), K. 593: Larghetto, Allegro
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 & Trio, Allegretto
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
7. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 6 in E flat major ('String Quintet No. 6'), K. 614: Menuetto & Trio, Allegretto
8. Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello No. 6 in E flat major ('String Quintet No. 6'), K. 614: Allegro
9. Adagio and Rondo for glass harmonica, flute, oboe, viola & cello in C minor, K. 617: Adagio
10. Adagio and Rondo for glass harmonica, flute, oboe, viola & cello in C minor, K. 617: Rondo

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #72003 in Music
• Brand: Philips
• Released on: 1997-06-10
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.com
Mozart really liked the number 5. Aside from the group of six string quartets dedicated to Haydn, just about all of his greatest chamber works are quintets, and some of them are very unusual too. This particular set contains three magnificent late string quintets, the ever popular Clarinet Quintet, and weirdly wonderful Adagio and Rondo for Glass Harmonica, Flute, Oboe, Viola and Cello. A glass harmonica, by the way, is a set of water-filled glasses that you set spinning and play with moistened fingertips. It was invented (or at least perfected) by Benjamin Franklin, and was wildly popular in Mozart's day, particularly among amateur female performers. An excellent collection in every respect. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Gramophone "Top 100 Recording"
In addition to the masterpiece G-minor Quintet (K.516), this second volume contains several other significant works. Most notably is the masterpiece Clarinet Quintet (K.581), a highly-angular Adagio/Fugue in rare key of C-minor, Mozart's last chamber composition (string quintet K.614) and a unique, late work for the unusual "glass harmonica". The two pieces for glass harmonica (basically, an invention of rotating glass bowls that ping when struck) are gentle, etherial compositions that Mozart wrote just before his death for a blind virtuoso of this unusual instrument (hence the late Kochel number K. 617). They are quite unique compositions in all of classical music. Equally dreamy in tone is the much-loved Clarinet Quintet (K581) with Brymer that is much better than many other versions I have heard. (But, there are several beautiful recordings of this work). Hearing its radient, soaring autumnal textures, one is not surprised to learn that Mozart absolutely adored the clarinet and writing to its wide and expressive sonorities.

It is nearly universally agreed that Mozart's string quintets not only surpassed his earlier "Haydn" quartets but are amoung his finest chamber compositions - and in the entire clasical repertoire for that matter. Particularly, the late string quintets, K515 & 516, are thought to be Mozart's pinnacle chamber compositions. One will be hard pressed to find finer recordings of Mozart's magnificant string quintets than these by the legendary Grumiaux Trio (+ Lesueur and Gerecz to round out the quintet). Their landmark recordings here are cited in nearly every major review as a truly exceptional example of the art of chamber music playing. The major reviewers/guides (Gramophone, Jim Svejda, Penguin and Third Ear) all give them the highest accolades, while Gramophone notes that, "This edition belongs in the pantheon of Great Mozart recordings." In addition, Gramophone awarded the String Quintets here their highest award - one of the "Top 100 Recordings of All Time" - which is recognition about as high as you can get in the music world. Their playing are supremely lush, galantly poised and tonally opulant - serving this special niche of Mozart's output honorably. Grumiaux really sets a standard for the ages of how to play Mozart, and such perfection of style is seen in these works (as in much of his Mozart recordings.

Equally, the recorded sound of the highest clarity (as usual for Philips). Philip's Quintets I and II is an absolutely superb, timeless set of four CD's that contain some of the creme of the classical chamber repertoire. Having all the Quintets on four CD's is of great value - as is the DUO "twofer" price. Chamber enthusiasts will want to get both Vol.I and II as each set contains 2-3 major works that are amongst Mozart's most prized chamber compositions. A wonderful investment in history and music that will never go out of style.