Search - Schubert, Takacs Quartet, Haefliger :: Trout Quintet

The programming is ingenious (as long as you have the bass player around for the Schubert, why not do the Mozart?), but the performances don't quite make it. This is certainly an acceptable "Trout" Quintet, with high spirits and good coordination. Haefliger is a thoroughly convincing Schubert player. But some of the dynamics in the strings sound precious and affected, and there is some surprisingly out-of-tune violin playing in the variations movement. The Wolf is delightful, the best performance on the disc. Some listeners might love this style of Mozart playing, but it sounds as though the players are often teasing the music, with excessively nuanced dynamics that call attention to themselves. Fine playing, but it won't be to everyone's taste. --Leslie Gerber