Mozart: Piano Quartet in Eb (K.493)

The piano has never been my favorite instrument; I would verbalize its basic sound as “clank.” But I’ve been drawn to it recently, partly because there is so much great literature for it, and am finding myself becoming more enthusiastic about it. I’ve also, since watching Bergman’s Magic Flute some weeks ago (more about that later), had a Mozart yen, and this Quartet and its companion (K.478) happened to be the only Mozart piano music I have on cd.

It’s been said that the string quartet is the most perfect musical ensemble, but I’m not so sure. After having listened to this piece four or five times, I’d say a string quartet—or, in this case, a trio—plus piano is, if you’ll pardon the expression, more perfect. (I know, “more perfect” has a good pedigree, but it always strikes me as similar to “more unique.”) The contrast of the cool, percussive, staccato of the piano and the warm legato of the strings is piquant and immensely versatile. The first two movements of this quartet have taken a place near the top of my favorite Mozart. There’s nothing wrong with the third movement, but its main theme is one of those Mozart melodies that I think of as slightly frou-frou, a little too dainty for my taste. He does fascinating and no doubt technically impressive things with the material, but the movement just doesn’t touch me as much as the first two.

This is the recording I’m listening to. Next up in the classical category is the other, G minor quartet K.478, which is apparently the earlier of the two. I don’t know why the Eb comes first on the disc.