Dvorak Piano Quintet 2 in A Major op. 81 (1/5) Borodin Quartet & S. Richter

Antonín Dvořák's Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, op. 81, B. 155, is a quintet for piano, 2 violins, viola, and cello. It was composed between August 18 and October 8 of 1887, and was premiered in Prague on January 6, 1888. The quintet is acknowledged as one of the three masterpieces in the form (the others being those of Schumann and Brahms).

The work was actually composed as the result of the composers attempt to revise an earlier work, Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 5. [1] Dvořák was dissatisfied with the Op. 5 quintet and destroyed the manuscript not long after its premiere. Fifteen years later, he reconsidered and retrieved a copy of the score from a friend and started making revisions. However, he decided that rather than submitting the revised work for publication, he would compose an entirely new work. The new quintet is a mixture of Dvorak's personal form of expressive lyricism as well as a utilization of elements from Czech folk music. Characteristically those elements include styles and forms of song and dance, but not actual folk tunes; Dvorak created original melodies in the authentic folk style.

The music has four movements: 1. Allegro, ma non tanto
2. Dumka: Andante con moto
3. Scherzo (Furiant): molto vivace
4. Finale: Allegro.

It has a duration of approximately 40 minutes.

The first movement opens quietly with lyrical cello theme over piano accompaniment which is followed by a series of elaborate transformations. The viola introduces the second subject which is another lyrical melody, but much busier than the cello's stately line. Both themes are developed extensively by the first and second violins and the movement closes with a free recapitulation and an exuberant coda.

The second movement is labeled Dumka which is a form that Dvořák famously used in his Dumky piano trio and features a melancholy theme on the piano separated by fast, happy interludes. It follows the pattern A-B-A-C-A-B-A where A, in F-sharp minor, is the slow elegiac refrain on piano with variations, B is a bright D major section on violins and C is a quick and vigorous section derived from the opening refrain.[1] Each time the Dumka (A) section section returns its texture is enriched.[2]

The third movement is marked as a Furiant which is a fast Bohemian folk dance. The cello and viola alternate a rhythmic pizzicato underneath the main tune of the first violin. The slower trio section of the scherzo is also derived from the furiant theme, with the piano and violin alternating between the main melodies. The fast Bohemian folk dance returns and the movement finishes aggressively, setting up for the polka in the last movement.

The Finale is light-hearted and spirited. The second violin leads the theme into a fugue in the development section. In the coda, Dvořák writes tranquillo[3] for a chorale-like section, which features the theme of the movement this time in augmentation and played pianissimo, before the pace quickens with an accelerando, and the quintet rushes to the finish.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Dvorak
• Piano
• Quintet
• op.
• 81
• borodin
• quartet
• richter

[ecco1vln]

great performance... but one curiosity: what is the delicious looking dessert?

[elias12186]

They are brownies with pistachio :)

[pigwidgeonfan]

Two things I love:

Dvorak and Dessert!

[oakroom48]

Thank you so much for putting up this wonderful work in a ravishing performance. Excuse me now while I make a trip to the candy store;)

[65attila]

The opening melody begun by the cello is melodic glory and if your listen with your head slightly nodded you can hear parts of "Home Sweet Home". This is a stunniog performance IMO.

[ParkJinna]

omggggg. the fudge just changes everryyyything. :P

[SuperMacGenius]

Haha I was just telling my friend "Really good music, and the fudge makes it even better" hahaha

[gabrielliansoileau]

The viola sounds absolitely delicious!

[dany53711]

Released by Philips, this audio recording was recorded live in June 1982 in Rudolfinum, Prague. The VIDEO for this work, performed by Richter and the Borodin exists in Russia. It was filmed by the Soviet TV in Tchaikovsky Hall of Moscow Conservatory in December 1982. I have seen VHS tape recorded from TV broadcast with poor reception. Anyone who has the VIDEO of good quality of Op. 81, please share with worshipers of S. Richter (and the Borodin Quartet).Thanks in advance. Billy Huang

[mario91551]

I bet you are watching this now Elizabeth :)

[Deneb33]

This was first chamber music I ever heard played live, in Chicago, in Jan. 1994, I forget the name of the musicians, but they were from the Chicago Symphony orchestra. Dvorak was true master.

[newFranzFerencLiszt]

what a stupid picture for this music...

[alvivianspangher]

@elias12186 Those can't be mere brownies. Fudge maybe...