Schubert: 'Trout' Quintet & String Trios

'one of the finest modern Trouts available. As with their Mozart, their Schubert benefits from scrupulous attention to detail, a keen sense of the music's drama and a deeply rewarding expressive response to this imperishable masterpiece … exquisitely played' (The Sunday Times)

"Following their splendid collaboration in the Mozart quartets… Paul Lewis and the Leopold Trio (with Graham Mitchell) are equally impressive in the Trout. High spirits and poetry are given equal attention… Each 'Trout' variation is strongly characterised - if the theme seems a little lethargic, the first three variations, each more animated than the last, put this into perspective." Gramophone

Schubert's much-loved 'Trout' Quintet is among the most popular chamber music pieces of all time. Here it is wonderfully performed (along with the two string trios) by one of the world's most outstanding chamber ensembles, joined by the pianist Paul Lewis (himself a fine Schubertian) and double bassist Graham Mitchell. These fine young musicians bring to these works the engaging freshness and generosity of spirit the music deserves.

Also on this disc are Schubert's two string trios. D471 (written in 1816) is just a single movement, which may suggest that he was having some difficulty mastering this demanding medium; however by 1817, at the age of just twenty, he was finding his own distinctive voice with his four-movement Trio, D581.

The Leopold String Trio, considered one of the world's most outstanding string trios, here performs these works with remarkable poise and expression. For the 'Trout' they are joined by the pianist Paul Lewis (himself a fine Schubertian) and double bassist Graham Mitchell: these fine young musicians bring to these works the engaging freshness, calm authority and generosity of spirit the music deserves.