Schubert: Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 100, D. 929

Album review

Completed just one year before his untimely death in 1828, Schubert's E flat major Piano Trio, D. 929, Op. 100, was among the carefully selected compositions Schubert chose to include in a concert of his own works, the only one of its kind during his lifetime. For Schubert to elevate this piano trio to such a position is a clear indication of the confidence the composer had in his work, a fact that continues to be reinforced by the E flat Trio's continued placement as a perennial favorite in the repertoire. Regrettably, the Narziss & Goldmund Piano Trio fails to elevate the work to a level commensurate with its elegance and sophistication. Clocking in at under 50 minutes, this Phaedra album is simply amateurish compared to the myriad other recordings of this trio available to listeners. Intonation is inconsistent, the piano is consistently over-pedaled, and -- most egregiously -- the three musicians rarely match articulation. When all three members are playing at forte, their combined sound is muddied and indistinct. Their interpretation is also a somewhat humdrum affair that does not distinguish itself in a positive manner. Listeners have many fine recordings of this trio available to them and would do well to choose one of them over this offering.

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