Clementi’s piano ensemble works may not plumb the virtuosic or harmonic depths characterizing his best solo piano sonatas, yet you can’t deny the composer’s unerring ear for both the duet and two-piano mediums. He goes about deploying registers like a master orchestrator, avoiding any hint of thickness or clutter. Op. 12’s first-movement exposition is a good example, where double notes, trills, and octave doublings kick in with the utmost discretion and maximum effect. In Op. 14 No. 3’s outer movements, listen to the whirling passagework, unexpected accents, and sudden dramatic silences and you’ll quickly understand why Beethoven so admired Clementi. The “pingy” resonance of the Seiler piano employed for this recording adds further tonal allure to the Genova and Dimitrov duo’s suave, effortless repartee, stylish wit, and flawless ensemble. In short, this is a thoroughly enjoyable, well produced release, and one of the best Clementi piano discs in the catalog. [3/11/2004]
