Although Schubert’s two piano trios date from what the composer knew were his final years, their large-scale energy and inexhaustible supply of memorable tunes give little hint of the grim reaper lurking in the distance. Here we have the superb Beaux Arts Trio recordings from the 1960s (previously available in a Philips Duo two-fer), featuring the ensemble’s original lineup with violinist Daniel Guilet, pianist Menahem Pressler, and cellist Bernard Greenhouse. There’s much to be said for the warmer deliberation and softer-grained ambience characterizing the trio’s mid-1980s digital remakes with violinist Isadore Cohen, especially in the slow movements. Yet the more incisive, buoyant, and texturally lean earlier versions continue to wear their vintage well.
The Melos Ensemble’s Trout makes its first CD appearance here. Its close, intimate sonic perspective seems to place the listener in the middle of the musicians. As a result, the tight ensemble focus and meticulous musicianship truly hit home, even if we could imagine more buoyant, less foursquare outer movements, plus more whimsical and cumulative interplay over the course of the fourth-movement “Trout” variations. In all, this release is recommended to collectors seeking Schubert’s works for piano with mixed string ensembles conveniently and inexpensively bundled. [9/7/2007]
