Chamber music: Beach & Vaughan-Williams

Rosnei Tuon, Cristian Zimmerman violin
Verena Schweizer viola
Laurent Issartel cello
Ivy Wong double basse
Ivani Venturieri piano

Amy Beach
Quintet for piano and strings Op. 67
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Quintet for piano and strings in C minor

With her Gaelic Symphony created by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1896, Amy Beach was the first American woman composer to establish herself in the very macho music world. Unanimously acclaimed as a pianist and composer, she leaves behind an important catalog. Written in 1905 under the obvious influence of Brahms from whom he took up certain themes, the Quintet for piano and strings op. 67 has a dreamy and melancholic nature. It contributed greatly to the reputation of its author in the United States. Completed the same year, the very effusive Quintet for piano and strings in C minor by Ralph Vaughan Williams takes up exactly the strength of Schubert's 'The Trout' Quintet without also escaping the shadow of the great Brahms. Left under embargo for a long time by the composer's widow, this essential piece of British chamber music only saw the light of day at the dawn of the 21st century.