Trios avec piano n°1 & n°2

Album review

Celebrated for his groundbreaking work in the concept of elaborate, rhythmically and harmonically complex tone poems, and for his expansive operas, little attention is paid to the early works of Richard Strauss. Yes, student works like the Cello Sonata appear here and there on recordings and in concert halls, but there lies a body of literature even before that. This Naxos album explores Strauss' very first published chamber compositions, the earliest of which is a work estimated to have been written about 1875, when the composer was all of 11 years old. Even the larger-scale Piano Trio No. 1 was written when Strauss was only 13. The early study of Beethoven and Mozart is quite clear, and listeners could easily mistake the First Piano Trio as well as the noticeably more sophisticated Second Piano Trio as works from that era. While they do not demonstrate what was to come in Strauss' mature works, they do illustrate the incredible command over form and structure that the young composer had and are worthwhile works in their own right. Performing is the Amelia Piano Trio, joined for part of the program by violist Max Mandel. This ensemble does an admirable job of treating these pieces not like works by a child, but early examples of a master's mind at work. Their playing is clean, crisp, and vibrant, just like Strauss' scores. The addition of the viola for the movements for piano quartet is seamless, creating a well-blended, rich sound. Naxos' sound is pristine and detailed.
© TiVo

Details of the original recording : 62:24 - DDD - Enregistré du 8 au 12 octobre 2008 au Evans Hall, Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut (États-Unis) - Notes en anglais