Mendelssohn Trios Op. 49 & 66

Chronique

Violinist Emily Bruskin and her twin sister, cellist Julia Bruskin, formed the Claremont Trio with pianist Donna Kwong in 1999, and have toured extensively and won numerous awards for exceptional musicianship. This 2004 release marks their debut with Arabesque Recordings, and promises big things for this energetic ensemble. Appropriate to their skills and range of expression, the Trio performs two exuberant works by Mendelssohn, the Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49, and the Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66, and the ardor of these Romantic chamber pieces sorts well with the group's passionate style. The emotional aspect of these performances is undeniably the strongest, and the Trio's intensity occasionally overshadows other important considerations of chamber playing, such as cohesiveness and balance. On the whole, though, the Bruskins and Kwong are communicative and move forward together, from expressive softness in the Andantes to great force in the Allegros, especially when Mendelssohn's marking is appassionato. Unfortunately, a pecking order is created in the recording, in which the piano is dominant, followed by the violin and cello in levels of clarity. Arabesque's sound is also a bit too hot, so the ensemble's natural sound seems distorted and the recording may not be an accurate representation.
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