PentaTone’s imposing multi-channel engineering envelops you within this young ensemble’s energetic virtuosity and wide dynamic spectrum, as if you had a close-up seat at a high-tech house concert. Should you think that this is too intimate a mode to experience the Mendelssohn piano trios, conventional two-channel playback may not be ideal, since the strings tend to stand out in the mix, with occasionally obtrusive bow snaps from cellist Daniel Müller-Schott. In any case, the main impression I take away from these performances is of three intelligent, world-class musicians who collaborate with ease and joy. Soft passages sport unusual finish in terms of tone color and balance, although the climaxes of long lines tend to peak too soon. Granted, you won’t find the ultra-sensitized, tightly knit ensemble integration and flexibility that distinguish the reference versions. Yet the players’ individual profiles command attention, such as in how the violinist and cellist differently phrase the C minor trio Finale’s main theme, or in pianist Jonathan Gilad’s ultra-clear, sparely-pedaled negotiation of the D minor’s endless runs and arpeggios. In sum, this release’s positive qualities merit a warm, if not unequivocal recommendation.
