Antonín Dvořák : String Quintet in E flat major, op. 97

Antonín Dvořák 

 String Quintet in E flat major, op. 97

I. Allegro non tanto II. Allegro vivo III. Larghetto IV. Finale: Allegro giusto

Written in 1873 during his American visit, in Spillville, Iowa, the op. 97 quintet is the third of Dvořák's string quintets. The first, his op. 1, dates from 1861; the second (with a double-bass instead of a second viola), op. 77, from 1875. Like the so-called 'American' Quartet, written immediately previously, the op. 97 Quintet is in fact purely Bohemian in its forms and melodies. The slow movement, a double theme with five variations, is the very essence of Dvořák's love for his home country.

 

A full-blooded performance from the Kapralova Quartet with guest violist Maxim Rysanov at the 2013 Indian Summer in Levoca festival..

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STAMITZ QUARTET. Bohuslav Matousek, violin I. Josef Kekula, violin II. Jan Peruska, viola.

Vladimir Leixner, cello. Jan Talich, viola

Antonín Dvořák - String Quintet in E flat major, Op. 97 for two violin, 2 violas and cello

1. Allegro non tanto 9'26
2. Allegro vivo 5'54
3. Larghetto 10'45
4. Finale, allegro giusto 8'12

Picture: Franz von Stuck, Innocence

The Quintet in E flat Opus 97, one of Dvorak's American compositions, was written in Iowa between June and August of 1893. At that time, Dvorak had made contact with the local Indians and was trying to use native Indian music in his compositions just as he had integrated Bohemian folk melodies into earlier works. Despite this, there is little specifically Indian in the work other than the G minor theme of the opening movement, although some commentators have tried to find local influences in other parts of the work. This piece is in a standard four movement form with an opening Allegro followed by a Scherzo notable for a rather mournful theme and certain reminiscences of his compatriot Smetana. The highlight of the Quintet is the noble theme and variations that makes up the Larghetto third movement and the work is finally rounded off by a typical Allegro concluding movement.