At the Salle de l’horloge in Gramat, in the Lot department in south-west France, for a concert of quintets by Robert Schumann and Antonin Dvořák.

Quatuor Cordes et Ames were formed about fifteen years ago by four musicians from the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. They now comprise violinists Kristi Gjezy and Mary Randles, violist Isabelle Mension and cellist Gael Seydoux. For these quintets they were joined by pianist Eloise Urbain.

Quatuor Cordes et Ames and Eloise Urbain

Composed in 1842, Schumann’s ‘Piano Quintet in E-flat major’ was performed for the first time a year later with Clara Schumann at the piano. This four-movement quintet is considered one of his finest compositions and it established the piano quintet as a definitive part of the Romantic genre. Whilst the Quartet performed it admirably there were times when I felt that they were playing individually rather than as a collective, which is strange given that it has been a regular part of their repertoire for several years.

However, there were no such complaints about their performance of Dvořák’s Piano Quintet no. 2 in the second half, which was really excellent. Dvořák composed his second piano quintet in 1887 and it was premiered the following year. It came about after he decided to rewrite his ‘Piano Quintet no.1’ from 1872, as he had grown dissatisfied with it. However, rather than submit a revised score he eventually decided to write a new work. Full of references to Czech folk music, the quintet is now acknowledged as one of the masterpieces of the form.

Robert Schumann: ‘Piano Quintet in E-flat major’, opus 44; Antonin Dvořák: ‘Piano Quintet no. 2 in A major’, opus 81.