Jerusalem Quartet Photo: Felix Broede
Schubert's C major Quintet is one of the few examples of the string quintet with two cellos rather than two violas, added to the string quartet. It is seen by many to be the crowning achievement of his chamber music, and is his final instrumental composition. He completed it in September 1828, a matter of weeks before his death at the age of just 31. He was already sick, and perhaps knew that his death was impending.
It is difficult to reconcile that transcendent music such as this comes from the mind of a humble individual - an otherwise ordinary, not particularly striking human being. But in his 31 years Schubert wrote over 600 songs, nine symphonies and a large body of chamber music. Despite the miraculous quality of his talents and achievements, Franz Schubert could not even afford to have a piano in his home until the year that he died.
Recorded in Nelson Centre of Musical Arts by RNZ
Sound engineer: Darryl Stack
