Joaquin Turina’s piano trios have enjoyed a degree of popularity in recent years, with recordings by the Beckova Trio (Chandos) and Trío Arbós (Naxos) preceding this new disc by The Damocles Trio. One thing that immediately distinguishes the current recording is its warmer and fuller recorded sound, the lack of which was the only flaw in the otherwise excellent Naxos disc (type Q4361 in Search Reviews). This adds to the impressionistic atmosphere conjured by the Debussy-influenced Trios Nos. 1 & 2. The Damocles’ finely calibrated timbral shadings, richly sonorous tone, and flowing phrasing makes for unalloyed pleasure throughout both works–a marked contrast to Trío Arbós’ more incisive playing (though this factor gives the Arbós the decided edge in the Spanish inflections of Turina’s Círculo).
The Damocles Trio’s program offers greater stylistic consistency by including Turina’s A minor Piano Quartet rather than the early F major Trio included on the Arbós disc. So refined is Turina’s ensemble writing that you immediately notice the extra viola in the musical texture, and Lawrence Dutton’s contribution adds to the group’s persuasive performance of this thematically pungent and emotionally vibrant work. All things considered, those strictly wanting the trios should stick to the Arbós disc, but the Damocles’ more varied program presents a compelling alternative.
