Schubert’s Trout Quintet

The influence of the natural world on the music of Franz Schubert shines through in this program of his works for chamber ensemble. In one of the earliest works featuring the valved horn, “Auf Dem Strom” intertwines the storytelling vocalist and her instrumental obligato, provided by the horn, to tell the story of lost love, swept away by the ever flowing stream. Trading a horn for a clarinet in the obligato role, “Shepherd in the Rock” sets verses of poet Wilhelm Müller’s works to music in a three-part scena that explores the expansive breadth of human emotion. In stark contrast to the vocal works on this program, the final piece exemplifies 22-year old Schubert in his most light hearted days, on summer vacation in the countryside. The “Trout” Quintet, written in 1819, contains an unusually rich instrumentation: piano, violin, viola, cello, and double bass. Joining OSL musicians on this concert are special guests soprano Liv Redpath and pianist Pedja Mužijević.