Quintet in Eb Major, K. 452 (audio sample via Amazon.com)

Shortly after performing the piano part in the premier of his Quintet for piano and winds in the Vienna Bergtheater, on April 1, 1784, the 27-year-old Mozart wrote to his father saying: " I composed a quintet, which received the greatest applause. I myself consider it to be the best work I have ever composed. How I wish you could have heard it! And how beautifully it was performed!" Considering that Mozart had already composed nearly 40 of his Symphonies, more than half of his piano concerti and concerti for oboe, horn and bassoon, this was high self-praise indeed. Mozart completed the work in late March of 1784 and his assurance and mastery of this totally original combination of instruments is astonishing. At no point does one instrument dominate– Mozart blends and contrasts the five very different instrumental timbres so effectively that one never becomes aware of anything other than the effortless flow of some of his loveliest melodic and harmonic inspirations. The work inspired the young Beethoven who wrote his early Op. 16 for the same combination of instruments, in the same key, with a finale theme reminiscent of the finale theme in Mozart's Piano Concerto K. 482.

“Kegelstatt” Trio, K. 498 (audio sample via Amazon.com)

Mozart completed the Trio K. 498 in August, 1786 during a very busy year. In January, he produced his opera The Impresario, in March two of his finest Piano Concertos, the A Major, K. 488 and the c minor K. 491 were composed and in May, The Marriage of Figaro was premiered. He also composed three piano trios throughout the rest of the year. Two were for the traditional Violin, Cello and Piano combination but the third, K. 498, was scored for Clarinet, Viola and Piano. While not limiting the music in any way, this combination of instruments makes for a more subtle, subdued but very expressive character. It's generally believed that Mozart himself played the viola part at the first performance.

Piano Quintet No. 1 in c minor, Op. 1 (audio sample via Amazon.com)