REVIEWS

VIENNA PIANO TRIO

Wednesday 15th February 2017


 

Mozart             Piano Trio in G major, K496

Schoenberg    Verklärte Nacht, Op.4 (arr. Steuermann)

Schubert         Piano Trio in Bb major, D898

The Vienna Piano Trio was formed in 1988. Delivering a combination of 'gravitas and panache' (The Strad), the trio debuted at Wigmore Hall in 1994. Two years later they returned and performed all Schubert's works for piano trio, then repeated the programme at the Brahms-Saal of the Musikverein in Vienna. Particularly successful in repertory by composers closely associated with Austria - Brahms, Schubert, Haydn and Mozart – these players exhibit traditional Viennese sentiment with sensitivity to the nuances of folk tradition.

The programme begins and ends with the first trios of Mozart and Schubert respectively – a bare 40 years between them – the first elegant and charming and the second profound yet strangely carefree. As a contrast we will hear the trio version of Schoenberg's early sextet based on the poem Transfigured Night – one of the masterpieces of late romantic chromaticism – speaking of overwhelming love and forgiveness.

REVIEW BY CHRIS SKIDMORE

Perfect ensemble playing at the Ilkley Concert Club

From the very beginning of their recital at the Concert Club on 15th February you could tell that the Vienna Piano Trio is a group which plays together frequently. Ensemble is such a fragile quality that it can easily be disturbed but with these three musicians there was never any chance of that.

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Recommended Recordings

by RAYMOND WAUD

Mozart

One of the finest recordings of this work to have come my way is by the Kungsbacka Piano Trio on Naxos 8.570518 (medium price). The couplings are the Piano Trio K.502 and the Divertimento K.254. The ever reliable Beaux Arts Trio provide all the Piano Trios and the Clarinet Trio on Decca 446 1542 (2 CDs at budget price).

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