Customer Reviews

Beethoven: The Complete Music for Piano Trio - 1

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The Florestan Trio started out as Domus, of which I'm a big fan (highly recommend their Brahms, Dvorak and Faure recordings). I took interest in this album because of Domus' reputation, but even the brief sound samples give ample evidence that there's much more here than mere reputation. Now that I've heard the full album over a dozen times, I must say it stands out remarkably (and unexpectedly) in my collection. At present, at least, this is one of my favorite albums.

My first exposure to these pieces was through the rather obscure (though solid) Trio Zingara. And while others here on Amazon have many nice things to say about the Ashkenazy/Perlman/Harrell recordings, I just don't hear anything special in them, certainly nothing that compares to these Florestan interpretations. There's an excitement and precision here in the Op. 70 trios that I just haven't found elsewhere. And while the D major 'Geister' Trio justifiably draws a lot of attention, this Florestan recording is a real revelation into just how good the E-flat Trio is too. If forced to choose, I'd actually take it over both the 'Geister' and 'Archduke' trios.

This has led me to explore additional Florestan Trio recordings, and in each case I have been quite impressed. I find their Schumann and Dvorak recordings particularly convincing.

For what it's worth, critics have given the current album some good reviews as well:

"These are arguably the most satisfying accounts in the catalogue." (Penguin Guide)

"This now has to be the first choice among recordings of these works." (Hi-Fi Plus)

"I can't say I have ever heard better." (Fanfare, USA)

Beethoven's piano trios rival his magnificent set of string quartets. His mastery of balance and sound is very evident in the Op. 70 set and the Florestan Trio are perfect in their balance and in their internal commnication - they breathe as one. Their paying in the second movement which gives the Op.70/1 its name is positively ethereal.

Superbly recorded, wonderfully played, this is a great disc.