“There is something truly hypnotising about Schubert’s Trout Quintet. No matter how many times one has played it or heard it one cannot get tired of it – on the contrary, I feel it is an endless source of energy and joy. Like a magical lake, forest or a river, it is so good to be near its presence – its existence makes the world a better place.” – Olli Mustonen
Chamber music has a special magic. It’s where individual brilliance and collective resolve meet and embrace. Following the astounding response to our performances of Schubert’s String Quintet, we’re now presenting his equally loved Trout Quintet. Joining our ACO ensemble is Finnish pianist and composer Olli Mustonen, a much-admired ACO collaborator. This program also features the first ACO performance of Olli’s own Piano Quintet, a piece which overflows with drama and passion.
Franz Schubert was just 22 and on a walking holiday in the countryside when he wrote his buoyant Trout Quintet. High spirits and an unstoppable stream of melody flow through the music, sunnily evoking a time of freedom and a place of natural beauty.
Schubert’s popular song Die Forelle (The Trout) is heard in the fourth movement, but its innocence animates the whole. An unusual touch is the use of double bass, which sets the pianist free to dance brightly across the instrument’s higher registers.
Joy radiates in Schubert’s beloved masterpiece. Hold your breath, lean in, and become one with the music.
REVIEWS
★★★★★ “The ACO has never sounded tighter, and it was plain to see why it remains one of the most sought-after musical ensembles in the world.” - Limelight
★★★★ “Joyfully yet suavely celebrated by Mustonen and his ACO collaborators.” - The Age
