[1/6/2011] Preview: The best-known of all musical swimmers, Schubert's "Trout" (continued)

The "Trout" movement of Schubert's Trout Quintet, the fourth-movement Theme and Variations, is played by pianist Mihaela Ursuleasa, violinist Julian Rachlin, violist Nobuko Imai, cellist Mischa Maisky, and double bassist Stacey Watton, in this film by Jasmina Hajdany.

FIRST LET'S HEAR THE SONG VERSION

And we've got a very different performance from the one we heard at the top of the post by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore. Their trout was a propulsive, decisive darter. Barbara Hendricks and Radu Lupu seem to be observing a more leisurely, roundabout swimmer. SCHUBERT: "Die Forelle" ("The Trout"), D. 550

Across a clear brook gentle, there shot in eager haste the trout, so tempramental; quite arrow-like it raced. I on the shore was gazing and watched the brook disclose the merry fish's bathing to me in sweet repose. An angler's reel unrolled from where he stood below. He watched with blood most cold the fish swim to and fro. So long no stone or sod stirred up the water pure the trout from line and rod would stay, I thought, secure. At length the thief lost patience and made the brook obscure with crafty agitations, and ere I could be sure the rod had started curving; the squirming fish was hooked. With pounding blood observing, at the betrayed, I looked.

-- German text by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart, English translation by Walter Meyer

Barbara Hendricks, soprano; Radu Lupu, piano. EMI, recorded c1985

NOW LET'S HEAR SCHUBERT PLAY WITH "THE TROUT"

SCHUBERT: Quintet for Piano and Strings in A, D. 667 (Trout): iv. Theme and Variations: Andantino; Allegretto Georges Pludermacher, piano; Trio à cordes Français; Jacques Cazauran, double bass. EMI, recorded April 1974

THIS IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE A PREVIEW, BUT IN CASE YOU WANTED TO HEAR THE COMPLETE PERFORMANCE . . .

Because, while we're going to hear the whole of the Trout Quintet on Sunday, we're not going to be returning to this performance, and in its rounded-edged, glistening way, it's rather attractive. SCHUBERT: Quintet for Piano and Strings in A, D. 667 (Trout): i. Allegro vivace ii. Andante iii. Scherzo: Presto iv. Theme and Variations: Andantino; Allegretto v. Finale: Allegro giusto Georges Pludermacher, piano; Trio à cordes Français; Jacques Cazauran, double bass. EMI, recorded April 1974 IN THIS WEEK'S SUNDAY CLASSICS POST I won't insult your intelligence by spelling it out. RETURN TO THE BEGINNING OF THE POST

#