Customer Reviews

Piano Cto / Piano Trio / 3 Romances

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

 

 

Clara Schumann has finally been recognized as a first rate composer equal to (and, some say, at times, better) than her husband. Though she composed no more than over two dozen Opuses (Clara stopped composing after her husband died), ALL are of high quality. This CD combines three of her best. The Piano Concerto is highly unusual in its structure, more so than Clara's dear husbands'. The movements flow continuously (as was the style at the time), but the slow movement is an unusual duet between piano and 'cello-- hardly a note from the rest of the orchestra. A 'Cello Sonata within a Concerto. In the over-all shape of the work, this daring experiment works very well. The G Minor Trio is now a staple of the concert repertoire (thankfully). The texture is heavily influenced by Robert's compositional style. All three instruments are consantly playing, creating a rich sonority. There are many who feel that this Trio is one of the greatest written in the 19th Century. I would tend to agree. The three Romances for violin are a pleasant dénouement to an intense, enjoyable disc. Excellent performances by pianist Veronica Jochum (daugther of the conducter Eugen Jochum), violinist and conductor Joseph Silverstein (of Boston Symphony and Boston Symphony Chamber Players fame), Colin Carr, 'cello and the always versatile Bamberg Symphony.

I like Veronica Jochum's work here in these exceptionally attractive and unduly neglected works. However, Silverstein's excessive vibrato in the trio is a real irritant. Buy the disc for the concerto, but if it's the trio you are intersted in seek out the vastly preferable Beaux Arts recording on Philips (or Itunes!)