Customer Reviews

An American Journey

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Eroica Trio again performs up to expectations with impeccable presentations of Kenji Bunch's Porgy and Bess Fantasy and Raimundo Penaforte's arrangement of Bernstein's West Side Story Suite. Both of these arrangements capture all of the essential melodies and harmonies of the original orchestrations and the Trio's musicality carries the performances. Most listeners will be familiar with the original orchestral versions so "pulling off" an acceptable, let alone an entertaining performance of these pieces is no mean feat for a group of "only" three instruments.

Mark O'Connor's pop-bluegrass Trio No. 1 is an entertaining complement to the two other trio arrangements and shows off Mr. O'Connors knowledge of what can be done on strings by players of the Eroica's caliber.

This recording is fun to listen to, and the arrangements are worthwhile additions to the piano trio literature that will undoubtedly find their way into programs by other piano trios who are looking to "round-out" programs with highly accessible and familiar music that won't offend the typical audience.

Energetic and faithful reproduction of the composers' original intent. A strong album, particularly the Gershwin selections.

I only heard the Gershwin and Bernstein Suites.
I was so taken with the extraordinary / superb
arrangements, that surpass even the original scores,
that I confidently feel, both composers would
second me and aplaud these Eroica Trio renditions
as well.

The trio does a pleasant job of playing primarily American musical theater pieces in their genre. I heard this first on the radio and was won over enough to buy it myself.

An American JourneyjThe ensemble of The Eroica Trio with their new violinist is excellent, and each musician is superb on her instrument. They understand what the composer is saying, and their concept of each piece is unified and secure. An excellent new CD from the Eroica Trio, and one which fans of classical music won't want to miss.

This trio's music used to be pretty good, but this CD represents a blatant pop music sell out.

Anyone who's followed chamber music will have undoubtedly heard of this trio, what with their relentless self-promotion, "look at me" style of playing and their reliance on fashion and glamour to present themselves as some kind of a novelty act of wannabe supermodels who play music. On many occasions they were able to back up those claims with decent performances, albeit, with too much emphasis on the players and not enough on the music being played. This latest disc, which apparently shows the trio with new personnel, is a disappointment that is bordering on schlock.

Skip this one, apparently the trio has jumped the shark and their best offerings are behind them on their previous discs.