Customer Reviews

Piano Trios

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

 

 

Most classical music fans hear a lot more polished studio recordings than they do live concerts and recordings of the same. As a result, it's easy to create exaggerated expectations of a live performance's recording.

Let me start by praising what's excellent about this recording: Balance. It's easy for a piano trio to lose its balance. One performer may stand-out too much, or another may fade into the background too much. With Mozart, all the parts are important and deserve careful attention by performers and listeners. For a live performance, this CD is amazingly well balanced. I would rarely expect to hear a concert with this degree of balance. Bravo!

In addition, each of the performers brings some personal quirks to the performance that add uniqueness. Ms. Mutter, of course, is known for her 19th century interpretations of Mozart . . . but she restrains her enormous power and passion to stay within the composition. Mr. Muller-Schott brings a youthful genuineness to his cello parts that deepen the meanings of the three works. Mr. Previn displays his awareness of different ways of interpreting these trios and gives some unexpected readings that you'll pay attention to.

The main weakness of the recordings is that Mr. Previn's part seems to either be a bit above his skill level or he didn't practice enough. Some of the piano parts seem out of control and you'll hear discordant notes that Mozart didn't intend. As a minor weakness, each performer held back just a little too much in exposing their most evocative music. Perhaps it's our awareness of jazz but when someone has the stage for a few bars and the part is exquisite, it's wonderful to hear that part sing a bit more.

Don't judge the rest of Mutter Mozart, Ms. Mutter's series of three recordings to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, by this recording. The other two sets of recordings, Violin Concertos with Sinfonia Concertante and Violin Sonatas, are wonderful.

My advice is to buy all three parts of Mutter Mozart. Your days will be filled with more joy if you do. I like to write while listening to these recordings and find them to be very good for my heart, mind, and soul.

Whether listening intently or just playing it in the background for company or cleaning house, this CD is a "must have." I must admit that I had reservations at first since I am not a big fan of Andre Previn (especially as a conductor). I feel he rushes though most compositions which takes away from the lyrical aspect of the pieces he performs. But Anne Sophie Mutter on the other hand has the ability to take things to a higher level, and in this case she does!

I won't begin to act like a music critic and start describing and analyzing each piece (as so many people in these reviews tend to do). You can read the liner notes for that. The bottom line is, the music is beautiful and engaging. Technically, it is challenging and this trio is able to play it beautifully with what sounds like relative ease. Mrs. Mutter has recorded three Mozart recordings last year and all of them are well worth buying. If you love Mozart and you love Anne Sophie Mutter, then this CD is a must.

Anne-Sophie has the most beautiful tone and touch with the violin, and is the definitive expression of Mozart and Beethhoven violin works. Her 250 year Mozart Birthday cycle is beautiful as ever, and this recording is a must-have for lovers of Mozart, and violin.

Nice interpretation of some of Mozart's trios. Of the 3 mutter-mozart discs this one looks like the less impressing. But still interesting enough to make the purchase worth it.

I was waiting for this album to be released thinking that it would be an enlightening experience to hear what these musicians do with the trios. Instead of expressing grace and subtlety, they plow through the trios with no sensitivity to nuance, character, or color. Terribly disappointed with the pianist who should have taken time to thoroughly work out the technique and think through the phrasing to capture the Mozartian grace. He sometimes captures a boyish charm and spirit, but I expected so much more from such a respected musician. The violinist is interesting in her approach, but her tone is edgy at times. The cellist does no harm-- but then again, the cello part is not prominent.

If you would like to hear some beautiful Mozart trios, try Maria Pires, Dumay, and Wang.

Well, so has she done it again. This is another VERY good work of Ann-Sophie. I'll realy recommend this CD.