This evening at the Queen’s Hall sees a fine Schubert concert played by three soloists from the SCO—Philip Higham, cello; Jessica Beeston, viola; and Nikita Naumov, double bass—with the well known Edinburgh pianist, Susan Tomes, plus Erich Höbarth, leader of the Quatuor Mosaïques on violin.
The programme starts with Schubert’s Piano Trio in B flat major, D898, written in in 1827. It features some superb piano work by Tomes, interacting with Höbarth on violin, and some lovely playing by Higham on cello.
After the interval, we hear the Piano Quintet in A major, D667, “The Trout”, inspired by Schubert’s 1817 song. In order to show us the inspiration, a young singer from St Mary’s Music School, Max Carsley, sings Die Forelle (The Trout) after the fourth movement.
This doesn’t quite work, as it interrupts the flow of the quintet, and most people are familiar with the song The Trout anyway. Also, it is rather daunting to put a young schoolboy singer amongst international quality musicians, and although he carries it off with confidence, it doesn’t add to our enjoyment of the quintet. The quintet itself is well played, with very careful communication betweenTomes and the string players.
A full downstairs house gives a warm reception to some beautiful Schubert playing, ending a memorable weekend of chamber music.