Shostakovich - Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57

Aulis Sallinen – Chamber Music V for accordion and string quintet

Interval

Schubert - String Quintet in C major, D956

Katya Apekisheva - piano
James Crabb - accordion
Corey Cerovsek - violin
Jack Liebeck - violin
Alexandra Raikhlina - violin
Simon Oswell - viola
Benjamin Roskams - viola
Thomas Carroll - cello
Benjamin Hughes - cello

Unusually, something we have played in the Festival before – although only once, eight years ago. Not the Shostakovich or Salinen, both of which are new, but the Schubert. The Sallinen piece, also known as the “Barabbas Variations”  contains many echoes of Piazzolla and the tango. Both the Shostakovich and the Schubert are towering works, suitable for finishing a Festival – except that one wants the slow movement of the Schubert never to end.