Great Trios

Like a good wine, good music must also mature. Consciously or unconsciously, Trio Parnassus which was formed in 1982 has followed this maxim in the course of its almost 20-year history. Perfection, love of detail, a keen feeling for moods, and a taste for discovery is what distinguishes Yamei Yu {violin), Michael Gross (cello) and Chia Chou (piano). The reaction of the public and the critics was correspondingly enthusiastic in 1996 at the New York debut in the Great Performers Series at the Lincoln Center, in 1997 at the Masters Series at the London Wigmore Hall, and in 1999 at the National Gallery’s Chamber Music Series in Washington.

Woldemar Bargiel - Trio Parnassus - Complete Piano Trios Vol. 1
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 260 MB | Full Artwork: 59 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 303 0805-2 | Country/Year: Germany 1998
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Trio

"The Trio Parnassus has maintained a reputation as one of the finest piano trios in Germany from the latter-twentieth and early-twenty first centuries despite a fair number of personnel changes. The ensemble has developed a reputation for straddling two rather distinctive worlds in its repertory choices: while it plays standards from the Classical and Romantic periods, as well as many twentieth century and contemporary works, it has also devoted much time to the rediscovery of forgotten compositions by nineteenth century composers like Woldemar Bargiel, Joseph Rheinberger, Philipp Scharwenka, and several others…" ~allmusic

The 1970s were heady years indeed for the Haydn collector, with complete recorded cycles of the symphonies, quartets and keyboard works and the first-ever recordings of many of the operas. Attracting less immediate attention than these boxed sets were the activities of the Beaux Arts Trio who, proceeding by stealth with one disc at a time, recorded Haydn's complete piano trios between 1970 and 1978.

Canada's foremost piano trio, the Gryphon Trio, has a reputation for offering richly detailed performances and excellent ensemble work. This nine-disc set represents not only much of their best work, but also much of the best of the piano trio repertoire. There are six of Mozart's trios; all of Schubert's and Shostakovich's works in the genre; and highlights of Beethoven's, including the three Op. 1 trios, the Archduke and the Ghost trios, and the Op. 11 trio originally for clarinet, cello, and piano.

This CD introduces to disc the newly formed Florestan Trio comprising Susan Tomes, Anthony Marwood and Richard Lester, all now-familiar and highly respected artists after their many earlier recordings, both as members of other ensembles and as soloists. Miss Tomes and Mr Lester were, of course, members of the now-disbanded piano quartet Domus (which was joined by Mr Marwood in its last, award-winning recording of the two Fauré Piano Quintets on CDA66766).

Johann Nepomuk Hummel - Trio Parnassus - Complete Piano Trios
2xCD | EAC+LOG+CUE | APE: 435 MB | Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 303 0307-2 | Country/Year: Germany 199_, 1989
Genre: Classical | Style: Viennese School, Piano

"…In conclusion, this is a splendid set covering some of Hummel's most rewarding music in performances that cannot be improved upon. Although there are a few other Hummel recordings that are mighty fine, the 'best of Hummel' is to be found in this MDG set and the Chandos piano concerto disc featuring Stephen Hough. With such wonderful performances, Hummel becomes a worthy alternative to Haydn, Mozart and early Beethoven. The MDG is an essential set worth every penny of its premium price." ~musicweb-international