Since 1926 when Casals, Thibaudet, and Cortot recorded their glorious rendering of the Schubert B-flat Piano Trio D. 898, the world seemingly has been flush with first-rate performances of this delightful work, including the legendary Feuermann/Heifetz/Rubinstein disc (RCA), the oft-cited reference standard by the Beaux Arts Trio (Philips), and more recent settings by Trio Fontenay (Teldec). Making the selection process that much more difficult is this new disc from the estimable Florestan Trio, which already has assembled an impressive portfolio of works by Brahms, Schumann, Ravel, Fauré, and Dvorák, all on Hyperion.
This young trio, formed in 1995, plays with elegance that is simply beguiling, and a fair amount of this effect is due to Tony Faulkner’s superb engineering. Of special note is the liquid timbre of Susan Tomes’ piano, whose dynamic gradation and “touch” is captured with astonishing purity. From the outset, you hear the “veteran” ensemble and communication between these players: just listen how violinist Anthony Marwood and cellist Richard Lester play off each other in their triplet exchange 30 seconds into the first movement. In the second movement Andante, the opening cello solo is sublime, sweet, and understated, followed by violin in matching character. The Scherzo is playful and light but not exaggerated and the Rondo brims with rhythmic gusto. The traditional couplings–the Notturno in E-flat and the Piano Trio movement in B-flat–are similarly well-executed, but are hardly the draw for this disc.
Overall tempos and rubatos are well-judged and broad (especially on extended “bridge” passages in the cello and violin). But the real magic contained in this disc is the trio’s idiomatic feel for Schubert: the phrasing breathes naturally and elastically, the players hold back just the right amount, dynamic contrasts are breathtakingly subtle but never overwrought. Perhaps the only criticism of this terrific entry into the Schubert pantheon is that it doesn’t include the E-flat trio, thus making it a slightly more expensive choice in the face of excellent mid-priced two-disc sets from the Beaux Arts and Trio Fontenay. [6/1/2002]
