Customer Reviews

Shostakovich: Piano Trios Nos. 1 & 2; Seven Romances

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This is an excellent new release from the Beaux Arts Trio. Shostakovich's early and rarely heard Piano Trio #1 was written at age 17 while the composer was still a student. Extremely accessible and enjoyable, the music shows the composer's trademark wit and satire with none of the crushing emotional distress that imbues nearly every one of his mature masterpieces. The Piano Trio #2 is among Shostakovich's most anguished works. The intensity of Shostakovich's own 1946 recording with Oistrakh and Sadlo (essential listening despite the gritty sound quality) derives in large part from its fury and hysteria. This new Beaux Arts Trio recording approaches the work differently, adopting slightly more deliberate tempos that emphasize the gravity and despair of the occasion. There is less frenzy but more exploration of Shostakovich's wide range of dark shadows, and the drama is chillingly sinister. Listeners familiar with the Beaux Arts Trio will not be surprised by the superlative level of musicianship evidenced here. The players' individual contributions could easily be extolled at length, but the real joy of the group-in concert and on record-is the unbeatable sense of ensemble. The playing is inspired, organic, and intuitive from the first bar, but listen especially to the ominous piano chords in the Largo or the impassioned string duet in the central section of the finale (starting around 5'35). The Seven Romances are haunting and sparsely written, with extensive solo passages for each instrument. Joan Rodgers' singing elegantly conveys the work's desolation and sense of mystery. The whole disc is heartily recommended for the quality playing, choice of repertoire, and clarity of sound.

This newest incarnation of the Beaux Arts Trio does an excellent job with these trios. To me, the performance is only slightly bettered by the older recording with Greenhouse and Cohen. This may be because of my love for the Greenhouse cello sound. It certainly doesn't hurt to have both recordings and Pressler's performance in both is amazing.

I have been fortunate to hear the Beaux Arts Trio perform this music live as well as own this recording. Among chamber music ensembles, they have few peers and no superiors. These performances are a complete success individually and collectively. The violinist Daniel Hope rose beautifully to the challenge in these works, among the most taxing ever written in the Trio literature. His colleagues are brilliant too. The sound, documentation, and vocal contribution are excellent too. A wonderful CD.