Ax, Stoltzman, Ma : Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart : Trios for Piano, Clarinet, Cello

Johannes Brahms (Composer), Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Emanuel Ax (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Emanuel Ax
• Composer: Johannes Brahms, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Audio CD (July 25, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000029CU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,381 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Camaraderie: Ax/Stoltzman/Ma Finesse the Masters, August 14, 2005

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ax, Stoltzman, Ma : Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart : Trios for Piano, Clarinet, Cello (Audio CD)

Listening to this buoyant and refreshing recording of the three major trios for clarinet, piano and cello confirms the fact that ensemble playing is best served when the performers of like mind. It is nothing short of a joy to hear Emanuel Ax, Richard Stoltzman, and Yo-Yo Ma sit down to join spirits in chamber music. The results are infectious, in keeping with each composer's work, and played with meticulous detail and warmth.

While most people will find the Brahms trio (opus 114) the most fully realized of the three, on this recording the Beethoven trio #4 (opus 11) is the most illuminating performance of the three. The phrasing is crisp, with one instrument taking up the leading melody and passing it graciously to the other instruments. It is a cohesive work, splendidly played. Our triad of great musicians obviously enjoys every moment of bringing this wonderful work to life. That is not to say that the Mozart trio (K 498) is not superb - it is just that this work is played so often that familiarity results in less attention to the performance.

This recording is highly recommended not only for those multitudes of fans of these three extraordinary musicians (and friends!), but also for lovers of chamber music of all forms. Grady Harp, August 05

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overall Good, April 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Ax, Stoltzman, Ma : Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart : Trios for Piano, Clarinet, Cello (Audio CD)

I bought this on a whim. I respect Richard Stoltzman as a fellow clarinetist. I do not agree all the time with his interpretations of music. This is a good recording. Stoltzman tends to overdo the vibrato a little too much. That is a comprimise I will take. The pieces are fantastically done. I agree with the Amazon.com writer, the Brahms seems to be the best understood. The others are played well also though. The players play seemingly well together. They are all technically wonderful, kudos to Mr. Ax he by far had the most difficult music, the composers being pianists and all. The only piece I had a hard time with is the Mozart. It is originally for clarinet, viola, and piano. Mr. Ma plays wonderfully through-out but I do not think it does justice to the cello(the piece). I mostly refer to the first and third movements. He plays it fine, but you can hear the cello struggle in that viola range to project like a viola. Overall this is a very good c.d. I would not recommend it be the only recording of these pieces one owns, but it does add too any collection.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect together, July 13, 2007

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ax, Stoltzman, Ma : Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart : Trios for Piano, Clarinet, Cello (Audio CD)

I'm not usually one for collections of classical music "greats."

But this Sony Classical CD isn't an instance of the "usual" such affairs. Rather the performances of the 18th Century Mozart and Beethoven and 19th Century Brahms trios were recorded at a concert series at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston from June 27 to June 29, 1993.

I'd love to have listened live. But hearing a CD of these three master musicians--Emmanuel Ax (piano) Richard Stoltzman (clarinet) and Yo Yo Ma (cello)--is a very fine substitute.

I don't understand the supposed few flaws others hear in these performances. All three pieces make wonderful chamber music, and both the works and the musicians are perfect together.

Maybe musicians are usually good critics, but concerning this CD, the plain old-fashioned music listeners call it best. Count me a simple music-listener--and a fan of this CD.