Each of these performers exudes beautiful music and beautiful countenances as they play from their hearts and souls. This is truly a transcendental experience for the audience as well. No wonder it's so quietly hushed.
I think that all enthusiastic music lovers who may have hoped for a continuation of the Romantic era into the 21st Century and who now know that this will not happen, hope that rearrangements of chamber music into small orchestral works and large orchestral works being arranged as octets and the like is what we should now encourage. I heard a Beethoven Symphony as an octet and it was very impressive as is this beautiful music by Schubert. Ah, Schubert, Why did you die at so young having produced so much music
This wonderful transcription is like a beautiful dream, in which there was a Franz Schubert recognized by royalty and had the financial support of a great sponsor. A Schubert who would been able to buy a piano early and not a few months before his death. No doubt in this marvelous transcription the intimacy of the quintet and the expression of the most intimate feelings is lost, but it is certainly wonderful. Many thanks Mr. Kremer for making possible to have this gorgeous dream.
Es fantástica la nueva dimensión que otorga la orquesta de cuerdas amplia a esta maravillosa obra. Ejemplo delicioso del surgimiento de propiedades emergentes. Exquisito. Gracias Maestro Kremer y Kremerata Baltica.
Simply one of the best renditions of D956, creating an entirely new and fantasy-like nuance for the piece (in other words the piece was born for the second time). Can't imagine how splendid it sounds live in the hall (rather than in the DVD).
" THE LOVELY STRAIN " When l first heard this String Qintett by Schubert,in the mid 1950s in bremen,the Adagio really a sort of touched my soul.l just couldnt know ,why Later in some Library ,l came acrossPeggy Woodford'sBook'Schubert , which quoted the following from'Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music ""l have known four musicians,all greatly experienced in this class of music ,andnone in the least inclined by disposition to sentimentality , who with strange unanimity expressed the feeling that, Were they fated in their last hours to listen to some lovely strain,thiswould be the music of their election.The LOVELY STRAIN is the Adagio of this C major Quintett.
Muy buenos intérpretes, pero claramente el maestro Schubert concibió esta obra para un conjunto pequeño. Esta versión con orquesta de cámara desvirtúa completamente el carácter íntimo y delicado de esta maravillosa obra. Sigamos escuchándola en su versión original.
Surprised at the extreme positions expressed on this work in the comments some views being quite radically opposite below. Having never heard it before, I believe it was a fine piece of composing and the orchestration made it seem quite robust. I enjoyed it!
The guy at the centre sure looks like Hans Zimmer! =) Anyway, I'm now starting to listen to classical music and I must admit that it is truly amazing the amount of work, dedication and precision that musicians put into it! I M P R E S S I V E !!!
Sometimes a certain joy comes over a performer when the synergy is just right. This happens to me when I have this right combination of music and fellow players. It's hard to explain to non musicians but it's pure bliss when it occurs.
Interesting idea; the quintet is full of quasi-orchestral texture and this arrangement helps enhance those moments and gives the piece more of an epic sweep. But it's too top-heavy; there should be twice as many cellos to keep Schubert's balance among the voices. And the moments, like at the beginning, when solo instruments are used, it's just confusing; either commit to the larger tonal palate or don't. I'd like to hear this approach with a larger ensemble. But the playing is exquisite; don't mean to be so critical, I just love this piece.
It is very well balanced, can't believe you want more cellos. E.g. second movement development is just perfect it would have been impossible with more cellos. Two cellos is NOT about volume of cellos but about TWO cello lines. I think you have misunderstood what Schubert achieved with the second cello.
As far as I can count, the sections seem to be about in the proportion you'd need for a balanced sound - 6, 4, 4, 4, 2 I think? Twice as many cellos (from 4 to 8) would require another few basses - maybe from 2 to 4-5. And then you'd need commensurately more violins and violas; maybe 12, 10, 8, 8, 5. Suddenly this small ensemble is becoming a fairly large string orchestra. I think it sounds balanced and rich without overpowering, but to each their own.
The Everest of occidental music.In my personal opinion, a small strings orchestra as this Kremerata doesn't cancel the intimacy of the quintet, on the contrary, highlights it's pathos. Besides the quintet in it's original version is almost orchestral, two cellos instead two altos, emphasizes the pathos but provides volume also.
It's a matter of personal taste. I understand when people don't like string orchestra versions of string chamber music. I go back and forth. Sometimes I prefer the original over a transcription, other times I enjoy the orchestral version. I guess it depends on my mood when I'm about to hear a particular work that I love.
Ok, so I’m gonna play the devil‘s advocate here. I find it underwhelming. Especially the adagio loses its touch, its soul-wrenching intimacy in this large ensemble rendition. Also it‘s too fast for my taste.
