Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio; Rachmaninov: Trio élégiaque No. 1 [Import]

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Sergey Rachmaninov (Composer), Kempf Trio (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Kempf Trio
• Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Sergey Rachmaninov
• Audio CD (February 25, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Bis
• ASIN: B00008DVC5
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,740 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: I. Pezzo elegiaco: Moderato assai - Allegro giusto - In tempo molto so

2. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: I. Pezzo elegiaco: Adagio con duolo e ben sostenuto - Moderato assai -

3. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Tema. Andante con moto

4. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Variazione 1

5. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Variazione 2. Più mosso

6. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Variazione 3. Allegro moderato

7. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Variazione 4. L'istesso tempo

8. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Variazione 5. L'istesso tempo

9. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Variazione 6. Tempo di Valse

10. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Variazione 7. Allegro moderato

11. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Variazione 8. Fuga. Allegro moderato

12. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Variazione 9. Andante flebile, ma non tanto

13. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Variazione 10. Tempo di Mazurka

14. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni: Variazione 11. Moderato

15. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II B. Variazione Finale e Coda: Allegro risoluto e con fuoco

16. Piano Trio in A minor ('In Memory of a Great Artist'), Op. 50: II B. Variazione Finale e Coda: Andante con moto - Lugubre

17. Trio élégiaque, for piano & strings in G minor, TN ii/34

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A joyous Tchaikovsky Trio in gorgeous sound, January 28, 2008

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio; Rachmaninov: Trio élégiaque No. 1 (Audio CD)

Here's an overlooked gem in sparkling sound. I was so captivated by the DG recording of the Tchaikovsky Piano Trio in A minor with Argerich, Kremer, and Maisky that I decided to try out several other versions for the sake of variety. The composer wrote such lavish music stretched out over such a heroic time span that most readings deliberately go for broke. I listened to the extroverted, swoony reading led by Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg (EMI), an opulent but somewhat puffed-up account led by Yefim Bronfman (Sony), a dated, underplayed oldie from the Beaux Arts Trio (Philips), and several lsss starry ones.

But I didn't feel the same rush as I had from the DG recording until I hit upon Fredy Kempf leading his own trio in this joyous, buoyant performance that remains in high spirits from beginning to end. Not a touch of grandiosity mars the music-making, and although Kempf has world-class technique, he doesn't act as overlord. The engineers have pulled a little sleight of hand by giving each instrument its own close-up microphone, thus enabling the violin and cello to compete sonically with Kempf's piano. It's an unrealistic perspective, but the playing is so exceptional that I loved every minute.

In all, this comes closest to equalling the Argerich CD, if not in wild abandon then in brio and vitality.