As recordings of Mozart and Beethoven's woodwind chamber music with piano are concerned, they don't get any better than this one by the
Consortium Classicum with pianist Werner Genuit recorded in 1978 and 1981. Played on period instruments, the
Consortium's performance is more piquant in tone but mellower in sonority than modern instrument performances. But the
Consortium's accomplished playing and virtuoso ensemble is comparable to the finest modern instrument performances and its style and grace surpass all but the very best of them. Both Mozart's E flat major Piano Quintet and Beethoven's E flat major Piano Quintet modeled on it receive performances from the
Consortium that are at once polished and pastoral, deep and delightful, integrated and individualistic. But the best performance here is of Mozart's Kegelstatt-Trio, a performance as warmly lyrical and charmingly witty as the piece itself. While older listeners may favor the
Jörg Demus recording with soloists from the
Berlin Philharmonic from the '60s and younger listeners may prefer the
Murray Perahia recordings with soloists from the
English Chamber Orchestra from the '90s, listeners of any age looking for superlative performances of three of the most popular pieces of woodwind chamber music with piano from the High Classical period could do no better than these. CPO's digital remastering of the late stereo EMI originals is warm and vivid.