The Quatuor Ebène was invited by legendary pianist Menahem Pressler to join him in celebrating his 90th birthday at a concert at the Salle Pleyel in Paris in November 2013. Their programme included two of the most life-affirming works in the chamber repertoire, Dvořák’s Piano Quintet in A major and Schubert’s ‘Trout’ Quintet, which form the CD version of this release. Additional items on the DVD version include the mesmerising encore – the Quatuor Ebène in the slow movement of Debussy’s quartet, with Pressler joining them on stage as a silent, but physically responsive partner. No wonder the 1800-strong audience burst into a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’.

90 years old, and still performing superbly as a soloist and chamber musician, pianist Menahem Pressler is a phenomenon – as the members of the Quatuor Ebène delightedly acknowledged at a celebratory concert at Paris’s Salle Pleyel on November 7th 2013. Recordings made at the concert, which also brought contributions from the double-bassist Benjamin Berlioz and the tenor Christoph Prégardien, have now been released on both CD and DVD.

Note that the download option includes the CD content (Dvořák and Schubert Piano Quintets) only - not the DVD content.