In their lively and robust performance of Schubert’s E-flat Piano Trio the Vienna Piano Trio employs a rich, full sonority that belies the presence of “only” three instruments. This impression is aided, I suspect, by the warmly reverberant acoustic captured with remarkable fidelity by MDG’s vivid recording. Throughout the performance the players effuse a marked vitality that carries the music along with seeming effortlessness. The first movement and scherzando boast infectious rhythmic energy and joyful spirits, while the lyrical Andante strides along confidently with some beautifully rendered solo passages.
But it’s the Finale that takes center stage in this work, even more so in this recording as it includes the original uncut version as a bonus. Schubert made substantial excisions in this movement, shortening its length by more than five minutes. The original version’s greatly expanded development features a few more rounds of the “tickling” motif (with its rapid repeated notes) that gains in importance as it now wanders through some fascinating harmonic modulations. It’s a challenging bit of business to maintain those repeated notes with evenness and accuracy, and the Vienna players pull it off impressively while making the most of the music’s motivic drama.
However, Schubert’s shorter finale should not be discounted as it gains in clarity and balance. But such is the quality of Vienna Trio’s rendition that you really don’t mind hearing it play through this marvelous music twice. Enthusiastically recommended.
