Forellenquintett • Trout Quintet • Quintetto »La Trota«

Franz Schubert composed his Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667, known as the Trout Quintet, in 1819. He wrote the work for a private patron, Sylvester Paumgartner, who requested a piece that included a set of variations on Schubert's earlier lied, Die Forelle. The quintet is uniquely scored for piano, violin, viola, cello, and double bass, an ensemble arrangement that provides the work with its signature light, shimmering texture and balanced interplay between the strings and the piano.

This 2024 release by Deutsche Grammophon serves as a reissue of the legendary 1975 recording sessions held in the Jesus-Christus-Kirche in Berlin. The performance features pianist Emil Gilels alongside members of the Amadeus Quartet and double bassist Rainer Zepperitz. Celebrated for its technical precision and warm, collaborative spirit, the recording is widely considered a definitive interpretation in the classical discography, capturing a rare chemistry between the pianist and the string players that has remained a benchmark for chamber music recordings for nearly fifty years.