The Takács Quartet and Zoltán Kocsis play Schumann

The celebrated Takács String Quartet joins legendary pianist Zoltán Kocsis to perform a classic work of Romantic chamber music: Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet.

Composed for piano and a string quartet—that at times resembles a full orchestra—the work is shaped much like a concerto. As is typical with Schumann, the piano plays a central role, shining in an opening Allegro of commanding grandeur, followed by a darker, almost funereal In modo d’una marcia, a scale-filled and energetic Scherzo, and a majestic final Allegro. At its premiere on 8 January 1843, the work was met with great acclaim, leaving a strong impression not only on Schumann’s wife Clara, for whom it was composed, but also on Richard Wagner. The composer told Schumann: “I can see what you are getting at and I assure you that this is what I also aspire to: it is the only salvation, beauty!”.