Beethoven: Piano Trios [Box set]

This is a newly released [budget] set containing the Beaux Arts Trio's second traversal of all of Beethoven's piano trios, plus some interesting oddities such as the trio based on Beethoven's Second Symphony. I recently acquired this 5 CD collection and am quite impressed by the warm, vibrant playing from the Beaux Arts Trio: pianist Menachem Pressler, cellist Bernard Greenhouse and violinist Isidore Cohen. Although some critics contend that the Beaux Arts Trio's 1960's version is more riveting than their late 1970's/early 1980's version, I find the latter quite compelling on its own. The playing is absolutely first rate, replete with much warmth and empathy for Beethoven's scores. The sound quality is also fine, even if it doesn't feature Philips' latest digital image bit remastering.

In their 50th year now, The Beaux Arts Trio has achieved legendary status for their crisp, elegant, and polished playing and adherence to the spirit of the music. Pianist Menahem Pressler (the last remaining original member) finesefully drives the music forward with his deft and articulate keyboard work that is always marvelously alive and bouyant. His style has an attractive lyrical quality to it which blends marvously with the two strings whose playing is of the highest caliber. It doesn't seem the Beaux Arts Trio recorded many "duds" as far as I can tell, and this excellent 5-CD set is no exception. And while their classy playing might project a slightly more refined than dramatic Beethoven here, such a style is well suited to the classical-era style of these earlier works prior to 1805 and Beethoven's slow-but-sure departure from classical forms and mannerisms.

Part of this more 'classical Beethoven' found in most of the trios here is partly because of the genre. The piano trio genre was not the place Beethoven experimented or "went all out" - as he did in his symphonies, quartets and piano sonatas - but more a genre he wrote to sell music (although the empassioned C-minor trio of Opus 1 seems more written for Beethoven's own expression). In the late 1700's, the piano trio was a popular combination for the home music market for many a Vieneese amatuer. Also, it was common and in demand for composers and publishers to transpose popular orchestral works down to the piano trio (such as the two in this set) for this market of paying customers. What was also a trend then was including the themes of the latest "pop music" people were humming around town in theme & variation movements, which is seen here in some of the trios in this 5-CD set.

The quality of music Beethoven wrote in the trios is very good and highly enjoyable to listen to. Surprizingly, some of Beethoven's finest piano trios are found in his Opus 1 set - the very first compositions Beethoven found worthy of publication. These were written in his early 20's and already show the musical skills and depth of a fully-mature composer. Highlights of these recordings are the attractive and musically-rich Opus 1 set mentioned, the magnificant opus 70 two trios, and the noble, heroic-period "Archduke Trio" - perhaps the most famous of them all. The Beaux Arts Trio not only brings out the power and drama of the fast movements quite well (a stunning C-minor Op.1 no. 3), but especially conveys a most attractive lyrical quality in the slow movements with great beauty and sensitivity, such as in the haunghtingly attractive Largo of the famous "Ghost" trio, (Op. 70 no. 1).

This is a really high quality and distinguished set of recordings packaged nicely in a super-slim box for easy storage and offered at an attractive price. Bottom line is they play this music superbly. Another Beaux Arts Trio set that is equally staturesque and warmly recommended is their 9-CD set of Haydn's Piano Trios (Philips). Compositions - 5 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Sound quality - 4 stars.

The piano is not balanced with the violin and cello, it drowns them out. The violin at times is quite muted and the cello is often indistinct. Listen to the samples critically before buying. I found the same problem on another Philips set of Haydn Piano Trios.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 15 reviews  4.5 out of 5 stars