Chamber music of the highest order: the first ever performance of Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet by this distinguished group of artists, plus Mendelssohn’s first cello sonata and Brahms’ second trio.

Mendelssohn:
Cello Sonata No.1 in B flat, Op.45 (25’)
Brahms:
Piano Trio No.2 in C, Op.87 (30’)
Schubert:
Piano Quintet in A, D.667, “Trout” (40’)

Braimah Kanneh-Mason violin
Edgar Francis viola
Sheku Kanneh-Mason cello
Toby Hughes double bass
Isata Kanneh-Mason piano

Main image: Braimah, Isata & Sheku Kanneh-Mason © Jake Turney


Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet – based on his song of the same name – has a unique place in Aldeburgh Festival history. On 7 June 1969, it was the last piece heard in Snape Maltings Concert Hall before the building, which had only been open as a music venue for two years, was devastated by fire later that night. Of course we know that the Concert Hall was defiantly rebuilt and reopened in time for the following year’s Festival. The “Trout” – a much-loved staple of the repertoire – also appeared in much happier times, as part of a “Sir Peter Pears Birthday Choice” celebration in 1984.

The programme is completed by Brahms’ invigorating second piano trio and Mendelssohn’s B-flat Cello Sonata, Classical in its influence but with undertones of 19th-century Romanticism.

This performance is being recorded by BBC Radio 3 for broadcast at 7.30pm on Wednesday 26 June in Radio 3 in Concert, and will be available afterwards on BBC Sounds.