Wilhelm Berger - Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 95

Wilhelm Reinhard Berger

(9 August 1861 - 16 January 1911) was a German composer, pianist and conductor

Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 95

Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 95, written in 1904.

00:00 - I. Allegro non troppo ed energico
17:20 - II. Poco adagio
28:40 - III. Molto vivace
37:17 - IV. Allegro moderato e con brio

This Piano Quintet dates from 1904 and was composed shortly after his Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano. As with the Trio, it is tonally is more advanced than Brahms but not quite so advanced as Reger. The editor of The Chamber Music Journal described the Quintet as follows:
- "Masterpiece is not a word to be to bandied about lightly, but of its genre, this work qualifies. The opening Allegro non troppo ed energico is massive and breathtakingly broad in conception, lasting nearly 20 minutes but its leisurely captivating themes hold the listener throughout. The Poco Adagio which follows is also a big movement. The part writing is very fine and his total mastery of compositional technique is apparent. The third movement, Molto Vivace, is an excellent scherzo which goes well beyond the limits of Brahms. The concluding Allegro moderato e con brio again is also a big movement. Here is a chamber work conceived on the scale much like a Mahler symphony."

The piano quintet is dedicated: "Dem böhmischen Streichquartett in Verehrung zugeeignet".