After the ‘song’ year of 1840 and the ‘symphonic’ of 1841, his ‘chamber music’ year followed and saw the creation of three string quartets and two of the 19th -century’s most beautiful chamber pieces with piano. In the autumn of 1842, in a creative frenzy, Schumann composed the Quintet Op. 44 and the Quartet Op. 47. The piano part was of course intended for his new wife Clara. In both works the jubilant atmosphere of the outer movements, combining Mozart’s vitality, Bach’s polyphony and Schumann’s dreamy disposition, is ravishing. In the middle movements, delicate scherzi à la Mendelssohn and two large-scale slow movements can be found: an expressive funeral march in the quintet and an expansive cantabile in the cello part of the quartet, which has become one of the most popular movements amongst Schumann’s chamber works.

In this new recording the Mandelring Quartett join forces with French pianist Claire-Marie Le Guay. A winner of numerous international competitions Le Guay plays regularly in the important concert venues, appearing in solo recitals as well as in concerts with orchestra. In addition, her passion for chamber music has led her to play with noted soloists and ensembles.