Customer Reviews

Brahms: Complete Piano Trios

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Amazon - please move the review below to its proper place under Beethoven

For the sake of those considering this CD, I'm offering an opinion that respectfully disagrees with Leslie Gerber's review. He sites the Mutter-Giuranna-Rostropovich trio as a version that "offers a lot more punch." It is true that those musicians are more extreme in projecting the composer's markings. That includes a very wide dynamic range which no doubt reflects a desire to view these delightful early Beethoven works in the light of the style that's to come. It's a valid approach, one that obviously downplays the influence of Mozart, and (especially) Haydn on Beethoven's early chamber music for strings. Unfortunately, what becomes increasing bothersome with greater acquaintance is the M-G-R's lack of charm. It's a performance that too often draws more attention to itself than Beethoven. Unlike Leslie Gerber, I find The Leopold Trio completely satisfying in its balance between classical virtues and the expressive "punch" which Beethoven requires. Mutter-Giuranna-Rostropovich's readings may be more forward-looking, but The Leopold Trio's are wiser.