Beethoven　piano Trio No. 5

The Beaux Arts Trio's 1964 recordings of Ludwig van Beethoven's "Archduke" and "Ghost" trios have long been staples in the catalog, despite being superseded in 1979 by more polished recordings. To avoid confusion, the 2013 reissue in the Virtuoso series on Decca is merely a repackaging of the 1964 Philips sessions, which also include the early "Gassenhauer" Trio.

Dutch musicians are different. They are absolutely objective, but deeply passionate; completely faithful to the letter of the score, but totally in touch with the spirit behind the score; wholly dedicated to their ensemble, but profoundly individualistic in their expression. In these ways, the Storioni Trio is the epitome of Dutch music-making. On this disc, the Storioni Trio fully inhabits not only the late eighteenth century world of Beethoven's early E flat major Trio Op. 1/2, but also the early nineteenth century world of Beethoven's later D major Trio, Op. 70/1, nicknamed the "Ghost."

Longtime chamber-music companions, Braley and the string-playing Capuçon brothers, give us Beethoven’s most popular piano trios in recordings of power and poetry. Braley’s commanding piano playing underpins the performances with a wonderfully firm foundation over which the two Capuçons, playing as one, can weave their magic. “Ghost”—named after its spooky, slow movement—is beautifully judged and played with a fine sense of line. The more imperious “Archduke” is also done terrifically, the chorale-like “Andante cantabile” drawing out some exquisitely balanced chamber musicianship from this French trio, while the finale has a real spring in its step.