This release from CPO marks two important anniversaries – the 150th anniversary of the death of French composer Louise Farrenc and the 75th birthday of Russian composer Elena Firsova.

The USSR-born, UK-based composer’s piano quartet, now ten years old, is the centerpiece of this recording. For her piano quintet, Farrenc adopted the unusual scoring of her piano quintet from her teacher Johann Nepomuk Hummel. The first piano quartet of Mél(anie) Bonis (1858-1937) features Art Nouveau-like melodies and a lilting second movement, played with charm by Ensemble Louise Farrenc.