Joachim Raff - Piano Trios Nos. 1 & 4 (Trio Opus 8)

Information

Composer: Joachim Raff

1. Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, Op. 102: I. Rasch
2. Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, Op. 102: II. Sehr rasch
3. Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, Op. 102: III. Mäßig langsam
4. Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, Op. 102: IV. Rasch bewegt
5. Piano Trio No. 4 in D major, Op. 158: I. Allegro
6. Piano Trio No. 4 in D major, Op. 158: II. Allegro assai
7. Piano Trio No. 4 in D major, Op. 158: III. Andante quasi Larghetto
8. Piano Trio No. 4 in D major, Op. 158: IV. Allegro

Trio Opus 8
Michael Hauber, piano
Eckhard Fischer, violin
Mario de Secondi, cello

Date: 2001
Label: cpo
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/cpo/detail/-/art/Joachim-Raff-1822-1882-Klaviertrios-Nr-1-4/hnum/8539854

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9

Joachim Raff's (1822-82) First and Fourth trios exhibit many of the same qualities found on the previous CPO disc of Nos. 2 & 3, reviewed earlier. A consummate craftsman, Raff paid particular attention to such things as motivic and rhythmic development and careful part-writing, which, combined with a flair for expressing genuine emotion, give his chamber works a distinctive sound and compelling character. This is especially evident in Trio No. 1 (1861), the most popular of the four and one of two in the minor mode. A grim introduction soon leads to a roiling, passionate allegro. Next, a galloping scherzo seems to be taking the first movement material out for a night-ride, while the following langsam movement is a song-like rhapsody that once again displays Raff's talent for melodies that speak from the heart. The finale closes the work in a demonically Beethovenian vein, with some dance music thrown in for good measure.

Trio No. 4 (1870) launches in a challengingly fast 12/8 meter, creating an effect not unlike Schubert's Trout Quintet. Most interesting however is the Andante quasi larghetto, with its mournful Venetian Gondola Song first heard on the solo cello. From this opening Raff builds an Elegy of considerable expressive power before closing with a reprise of the plaintive melody. After this exquisite movement, the material of the robust finale seems rather prosaic, and it takes all the energy, imagination, and commitment Trio Opus 8 can muster to hold your interest. That they do is testament to the superlative talent of these three fine musicians, who shine in the remaining movements of both trios as well. As before, CPO's recording is close in perspective but manages to capture more bass information this time around. Both discs in this series are excellent, but this one is the top choice.

-- Victor Carr Jr., ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/Aug01/Raff_trios.htm
http://www.raff.org/records/reviews/chamber/02.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Trios-1-J-Raff/dp/B00005LDI1

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Joachim Raff (May 27, 1822 – June 24 or June 25, 1882) was a German-Swiss composer, teacher and pianist. He worked as Liszt's assistant at Weimar from 1850 to 1853, helping in the orchestration of several of Liszt's works. From 1878 he was the first Director of, and a teacher at, the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt, where he employed Clara Schumann and a number of other eminent musicians as teachers. His pupils there included Edward MacDowell and Alexander Ritter. Raff was very prolific, and by the end of his life was one of the best known German composers, though his work is largely forgotten today.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joachim_Raff

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Trio Opus 8 was formed in 1986. Its name follows numerous compositions for piano trio bearing the opus number 8 - Brahms, Chopin, Pfitzner and Shostakovich. They studied at the Stuttgart Academy of Music and in master classes with Trio di Trieste, György Sebők and Leon Fleisher. Trio Opus 8 made its first published appearance in January 1986 and won several prizes in the following years. Since then, the Trio has performed across Europe, make radio and television production, and released records and CDs for labels such as cpo, Bayer Records, Tacet and Arte Nova.

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