The Famous Oistrakh Trio

Chronique

As far as Rachmaninov Trio recordings go, you cannot beat this one. The trio of violinist David Oistrakh, cellist Svyatoslav Knushevitsky, and pianist Lev Oborin was born with Rachmaninov's music in its blood and its monaural recording of his Elegiaque Trio in D minor is the most passionately despairing, the most powerfully expressive, and the most completely compelling performance ever committed to posterity. Oistrakh, Knushevitsky, and Oborin are each strong individuals, but their ensemble is even greater than the sum of its parts, an ensemble that performs with consummate mastery and whole-hearted dedication. As far as the Ravel Trio recording goes, there are arguably at least a dozen that beat this one. This is not to say that the Oistrakh Trio plays with any less mastery or dedication, because its performance here is every bit as consummate and whole-hearted. But should Ravel's Trio be played this whole-heartedly is the question. Even at his most passionate -- and his Trio is arguably Ravel at just a bit less than his most passionate -- Ravel is still absolutely objective. Like Flaubert, Ravel stands back from his creations but the same cannot be said of the Oistrakh Trio which, like Dostoyevsky, lives inside his creation. And while their performance of Ravel's Trio is passionate and expressive, it is not quite completely compelling because, for Ravel, it's never personal and for the Oistrakh Trio, this time, it's always personal. Preiser's transfers are undated, but the antique recordings from the USSR are raw and rough; even if the sound is sometimes scrappy, it is always honest.
© TiVo