Customer Reviews

Trios for Clarinet, cello & piano

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

 

 

I really enjoy the energy and expression in these three trios recorded by Charles West and the Drinker/Baker Duo. Especially, I love the colorful and warm tone that Charles West produces. Drinker's sound reaches out and touches my soul.This is probably my favorite cd in my collection.

This is a good CD, and it's worthwhile for the D'Indy Trio alone. I think this is one of the most beautiful compositions for clarinet trio, or possibly clarinet period! I particularly enjoy the 2nd movement. The third movement also opens with a gorgeous clarinet solo.

The Muczynski is nice, but it's typical Muczynski (I tend to think all his composition sounds the same).

The Brahms is decent, but there are MUCH better version out there than this.

My main complaint with the CD is not the interpretation as another poster mentioned, but the sound the cellist makes. There are several moments when the sound is shrill, thin, and way too bright. A couple spots that come to mind are the second movement of the Brahms Trio (which IS the most beautiful pieces of chamber music I've ever heard). About 1 minute into the movement, the cello has a a little solo while the clarinet sustains a note over a few measures (if you know the piece, you probably know which spot I'm talking about). The cellist's playing is just bad here and completley ruins the moment! Another spot is in the D'Indy Trio. In the third movement, there is a spot where the clarinet and cello play in unison. The cellist's sound here is shrill, grating and doesn't blend at all with West's nice idiomatic clarinet sound.

Overall, this is a decent CD. The D'Indy is amazing, even with the few sour cello spots. The Muczynski is nice too. If you are looking just for the Brahms Trio, this ISN'T the CD I'd buy. There are numerous other recordings I prefer of this piece (Stoltzman/Ma, Victoria Soames, Karl Leister, Michael Collins, just to name a few). I sort of agree with a previous poster that this CD is much better for it's repertoire than it's performances.

If you are looking for a cd with these three compositions on it, to hear them, this is the cd for you! I have yet to see the d'indy and Fantasy Trio on a cd, non-the-less on the same cd. The performance seemed lack-luster and unthoughtout/unclear.