Dohnányi: Piano Quintets Nos. 1 & 2

This performance of Erno Dohnanyi’s first and second piano quintets, performed by the excellent Enso Quartet with pianist Gottlieb Wallisch making up the fifth member of the quintet. Mr. Dohnanyi, whom I was previously unfamiliar with, was a contemporary of Bartok and also a fine pianist (according to the informative liner notes), but was more strongly influenced by the German school of composition. The liner notes also give some of his history living in Austria, Hungary, and finally the United States, along with details of the political climate that influenced his career and choice of location to make his home in. The first Piano Quintet has definite Brahmsian characteristics, the four movement work featuring a very Brahms-like interplay between the piano and the strings particularly in the second movement. The music is lovely and evocative, and most certainly requires the best of each musician in the quintet – it would be a treat to be able to hear this performed live. Piano Quintet No. 2, composed 19 years later in 1914, is darker and more somber as a whole, but rather feelingly energetic in sections in the second movement, giving way to a slow and somber melody from the cello to start the third and final movement. There is a clear emotional dialog between the instruments in both quintets, but particularly in the second one. Again, this is music quite suitable for the chamber music concert venue, and it would be a welcome addition to any chamber music performance currently featuring works of Brahms or Mendelssohn – there is definitely something of value here. I will definitely have to investigate other works by this composer, particularly if they are performed by musicians as talented as those heard on this CD. In any event, this recording is a welcome addition to my collection and will continue to spend quite a bit of time in my CD player. Recommended.