Trio Con Brio

Older chamber music fans who lament the demise of the trio formed by pianist Eugene Istomin, violinist Isaac Stern, and cellist Leonard Rose will rejoice to hear of this two-disc EMI DVD set featuring videotaped recordings by the esteemed American trio of Beethoven's complete works in the genre: the three Trios from Opus 1, the two from Opus 70, and the one and only Opus 97, plus the transcription of Opus 11. They will, of course, already have the players' stereo studio recordings of the works released on Columbia in the '60s, but unless they were watching French television in 1970, they probably missed these performances filmed live in the studio in Paris. Istomin, Stern, and Rose here have the same distinctive blend of strong individuality and sympathetic ensemble, of blunt aggression and warm tenderness, of powerful drama and melting lyricism that was the hallmark of the group's studio performances, but with the extra excitement and spontaneity of live performances. Though the direction is minimal, the camera work is shaky, and two of the performances – Opus 1, No. 3, and Opus 11 – are in black and white, these discs will thrill fans of the Istomin, Stern, and Rose trio. INA-EMI's stereo sound is very vivid and immediate. (James Leonard)

Already established within Viennese culture by Haydn and Mozart, the trio genre was taken to new limits by the inexhaustible imagination of Beethoven's genius: "a serene joy come from an unknown world", was E. T. A. Hoffmann's reaction on hearing the Trio in D major Op.70 no.1. The Wanderers have ventured into the Beethoven piano trios and mastered every inch of its topography. What better guide could there be for us to follow with total confidence, in their 25th anniversary year?

Ludwig van Beethoven - Trio Parnassus - Complete Piano Trios Vol. 1-5
5xCD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 1,07 GB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 303 1051/4-2, 303 0510-2 | Country/Year: Germany 2001, 1994
Genre: Classical | Style: Viennese School, Piano, Trio

There's beauty aplenty in Parnassus' playing… MDG's recording, by placing the piano (which sounds wonderful throughout) slightly back in the acoustic, achieves a believable and wholly satisfying instrumental balance.

Ludwig van Beethoven - Trio Parnassus - Complete Piano Trios
5xCD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 1,07 GB | Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # Various | Country/Year: Germany 2001
Genre: Classical | Style: Classicism, Piano Trio

There's beauty aplenty in Parnassus' playing… MDG's recording, by placing the piano (which sounds wonderful throughout) slightly back in the acoustic, achieves a believable and wholly satisfying instrumental balance.