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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Franz Schubert - Piano Trio No. 2 (Florestan Trio)


Information

Composer: Franz Schubert
  1. Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major, D. 929: 1. Allegro
  2. Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major, D. 929: 2. Andante con moto
  3. Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major, D. 929: 3. Scherzo: Allegro moderato
  4. Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major, D. 929: 4. Finale: Allegro moderato
  5. Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major, D. 929: 4. Finale: Allegro moderato (first version)

Florestan Trio
Anthony Marwood, violin
Richard Lester, cello
Susan Tomes, piano

Date: 2002
Label: Hyperion
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67347

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Review

A splendidly characterised performance proves an excellent follow-up to the Florestan Trio’s previous Schubert CD

Rather as Schubert himself did in the closing months of 1827, the Florestan Trio swiftly follow their illuminating account of the B flat Trio (Hyperion, 3/02) with the more profound, yet still often light-hearted E flat Trio. This was written in the same month (November) that Schubert completed Winterreise. We are instantly reminded of this in the Florestan’s eloquent and aptly paced account of the C minor Andante con moto, with what Richard Wigmore describes as its ‘stoical trudging gait’. Its essential melancholy is gently caught, first by the cellist, Richard Lester, and then equally touchingly by the pianist, Susan Tomes (0'56").

The dramatically rhythmic opening of the first movement (like the B flat Trio before it) could almost be by Beethoven, but once again these players show themselves to be completely within the Schubertian sensibility and catch perfectly the atmosphere of the more important lyrical motif, first heard on the cello (in bars 15 and 16), which is to dominate the movement alongside the engaging repeated-note figure (so delicately articulated by the piano (1'00"). You can easily pick these ideas out, for the performance includes the exposition repeat.

The canonic Minuet/Scherzo is genially Viennese and is handled here with a remarkably wide dynamic range, with the Trio agreeably boisterous, yet with contrasting moments of intimacy when the repeated-note theme from the first movement reappears. They then winningly set a jaunty mood for the finale, which is maintained whenever the main theme reappears, even though, as always with late Schubert, much happens to vary the music’s mood and atmosphere including the reprise of the main cello theme from the slow movement, brightly decorated by the violin and piano. Schubert must have had a very soft spot for this melody, as it comes back again in the coda, which ends the work so positively. Another superb performance then, penetrating, yet full of spirited spontaneity, and in spite of the moments of sadness, much Schubertian bonhomie. As before, the recording is completely lifelike and very well balanced.

As a bonus we are offered Schubert’s original finale, nearly two minutes longer without the two cuts in the development made by the composer, totalling 98 bars. But Schubert was right: there may be a case for the extra ‘heavenly’ length, but the finale normally heard seems to me just right. With the benefit of CD you can make your own judgement.

-- Duncan DruceGramophone

More reviews:
ClassicsToday ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10
BBC Music Magazine  PERFORMANCE: ***** / SOUND: *****
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/zbxm
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/aug/02/classicalmusicandopera.artsfeatures3
http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Trio-E-Flat-Florestan/dp/B000069CVC

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Franz Schubert (31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828) was an Austrian composer who was extremely prolific during his short lifetime. His output consists of over six hundred secular vocal works (mainly Lieder), seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music and a large body of chamber and piano music. Today, Schubert is ranked among the greatest composers of the late Classical era and early Romantic era and is one of the most frequently performed composers of the early nineteenth century. His music is characterized by pleasing tunes while still has "a great wealth of technical finesse".

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The Florestan Trio was formed in 1995 in London. That year the piano quartet Domus disbanded, and that group's pianist Susan Tomes and its cellist Richard Lester, together with violinist Anthony Marwood, formed the Florestan Trio. The Trio has established a reputation as one of the finest piano trios in the world. In its first decade, the group has made 14 recordings on the Hyperion label, all of which received Gramophone nominations. Its concerts have also drawn enthusiastic receptions from critics and public alike.
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/florestan-trio-mn0001398686

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