The Joachim Trio turns in wonderful performances of the two finest piano trios written in the second half of the 19th century. The F minor Trio is a staggering masterpiece whose comparative neglect by performers is inexplicable. It’s perfectly constructed, gorgeously written for the three players, and contains some of the composer’s best tunes. These young players show a profound grasp of the composer’s idiom: they catch the second movement’s “two against three” rhythmic ambiguity perfectly; the “poco adagio” is just that–not too slow, but intimate as a kiss. The finale’s ultimate resolution in a major key, following a last reminiscence of the first movement’s principal theme, brings an almost physical release of tension. After the emotional intensity of this work, the playful and popular “Dumky” Trio–each of its six short movements based on the same Ukrainian dance form–comes as a welcome contrast. If this group’s recording of the composer’s two early trios is as good as this Volume One, Naxos will really have something to be proud of.
