Customer Reviews

Rachmaninov: Piano Trios

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Contrary to what the reviewer Paul Cook says, the Piano Trio #1 in G minor is not the more famous of the two works. It was not published until 1947 (it was composed in 1892), and it is not clear what caused Rachmaninov to compose it (it's all in the liner notes, and books about the composer). It's a powerful, short work, and is very much in the Rachmaninov mold. The Piano Trio #2 in D minor IS the more famous of the two trios, and was composed in "memory of a great artist"--Tchaikovsky, who was a great supporter of Rachmaninov's works. The Trio #2 is emotional and passionate, longer in construction, with a difficult piano part that tends to overshadow the strings. But, it is a memorable work, and it's a pity that Rachmaninov did not write more chamber music.

The Moscow Rachmaninoff Trio do a credible job performing these pieces, but the acoustics are sometimes not the best, and the sound is muffled and muddy at times. Also, they tend to rein in the passion at times when it is most needed.

The Two Pieces for violin and piano, Op. 6, are a real treat, as they have not, to my knowledge, been recorded previously. Tsinman and Yampolsky work together well, and the violin sings above the difficult piano part. It's a shame Rachmaninov never wrote a longer work for violin and orchestra--he clearly had a feeling for the instrument.

In all, a good disc, but for just the trios alone, I would go with the recording made by the Beaux Arts Trio some years ago--extremely emotional and passionate, but not over-the-top.