César Franck - Piano Quintet in F minor

- Composer: César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck (10 December 1822 -- 8 November 1890) - Performers: The Schubert Ensemble (of London) - Year of recording: 2001 Piano Quintet in F minor, M. 7, written in 1878-1879. 00:00 - I. Molto moderato quasi lento 16:06 - II. Lento, con molto sentimento 26:38 - III. Allegro non troppo, ma con fuoco The Piano Quintet, one of the earliest masterpieces of Franck, marked his return to chamber music after more than 35 years. The work was dedicated to Saint-Saëns who, although he played the piano part in the premiere, so strongly disapproved of the musical language of the composer that he rejected the dedication. - The first movement opens with a dramatic introduction, Molto moderato quasi lento, by the bowed strings. The piano replies in a gentle manner. The strings restate their opening. The piano turns even more gentle. The dialogue continues along similar lines until the piano suddenly launches into the Allegr