Shostakovich & Arensky Trios

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The Claremont Trio's sophomore recording combines the fully romantic Trio No. 1 by Arensky with both of Dmitry Shostakovich's piano trios. Combining the Arensky with Shostakovich's Trio No. 1 makes sense, since Shostakovich's trio was written with a youthful passion and romanticism not found in most of his more mature works. It also is a good fit for the Claremont because the trio is at its best in energetic, ardent passages. In those types of situations, it lets the music flow freely, playing together both emotionally and literally. The finale of the Arensky is as fervent and intense as can be hoped for any Romantic, rhapsodic flight of fancy. The same is true in most of the Shostakovich No. 1. Where the trio is less impressive is in the slower, less impassioned passages and movements. The musicians lose the concentration of expression and seem to focus much more on articulation, not always with consistent results either together or individually and without a truly mature depth of feeling. It's as if they need to realize that they can play with confidence and determination, and cleanly, and still give the music sensitive shaping. The elegy in the Arensky is very nicely quiet, soft, and flowing, the best ensemble work of the Claremont here in a slow movement, but lacks earnest gravity; they don't take advantage of the yearning quality of the music. The same holds true in most of Shostakovich's Trio No. 2, a masterpiece of a memorial. Here again, it's not a question of being able to play the music, but to interpret it with maturity, and the Claremont isn't quite ready for it. The recording's sound is well-balanced and close enough to expose the imperfections of the trio's articulation and ensemble work.
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