Beethoven, Glinka, Brahms & Hartmann: Trio in B major - Trio pathetique

Chronique

Though not as common as the more typical piano instrumentation, the "clarinet trio" genre (which substitutes the clarinet for the violin) received significant contributions from several notable composers. The earliest such example is likely the Op. 11 Trio of Beethoven while the most frequently played is certainly the Brahms Op. 114 Trio in A minor, one of many chamber works the composer wrote after meeting clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld late in life. In addition to these more common works, this Scandinavia Classics two-disc set also includes trios of Michael Glinka and Emil Hartmann. Performing is the Copenhagen Clarinet Trio, an ensemble first formed in 1985. Each of the players in the trio plays with ample technical ability and execute their respective parts without incident. As a group, they seem to have a shared vision of the music they are playing and perform with unified articulation and intonation. Some of their musical decisions are less universally desirable. Most notable, extreme liberties are taken with tempo and rubato in all four pieces. The Brahms especially almost grinds to a halt far too frequently. Even the Beethoven is robbed of some of its vigor and vitality by meddling with tempo. The trio's recorded sound quality is a bit nasal and distant, and balance within the ensemble often buries the cello.
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