Ashkenazy, Perlman, Harrell: Beethoven – Piano Trios Vol. 1-2 (4 CD, APE)

Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 2 CD
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: EMI Classics

Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 2 CD
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: EMI Classics
Size: 940 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

Vol.1

Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 1/1
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Piano Trio in G major, Op. 1/2
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1/3
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Piano Trio in B flat major (“Allegretto”), WoO 39
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Piano Trio in G major (“Kakadu Variations”), Op. 121a
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Trio for clarinet (or violin), cello & piano No. 4 in B flat major (“Gassenhauer”), Op. 11
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Disc: 1
01. 1. Allegro
02. 2. Adagio cantabile
03. 3. Scherzo e Trio: Allegro assai
04. 4. Finale: Presto
05. 1. Adagio – Allegro vivace
06. 2. Largo con espressione
07. 3. Scherzo e Trio: Allegro
08. 4. Finale: Presto

Disc: 2
01. 1. Allegro con brio
02. 2. Andante cantabile con variazioni
03. 3. Menuetto e Trio: Quasi allegro
04. 4. Finale: Prestissimo
05. Introduzione: Adagio assai –
06. Tema (‘Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu’ / Wenzel M?ller): Allegretto –
07. Variation 1: [L’istesso tempo] –
08. Variation 2: [L’istesso tempo] –
09. Variation 3: [L’istesso tempo] –
10. Variation 4: [L’istesso tempo] –
11. Variation 5: [L’istesso tempo] –
12. Variation 6: [L’istesso tempo] –
13. Variation 7: [L’istesso tempo] –
14. Variation 8: [L’istesso tempo] –
15. Variation 9: Adagio espressivo
16. Variation 10: Presto – Allegretto
17. 1. Allegro con brio
18. 2. Adagio
19. 3. Tema con variazioni (‘Pria ch’io l’impegno’): Allegretto – Allegro

Vol. 2

Piano Trio in D major (“Ghost”), Op. 70/1
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Piano Trio in E flat major (“14 Variations on an Original Theme”), Op. 44
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 70/2
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Piano Trio in E flat major (“Allegretto”), Hess 48
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Piano Trio in B flat major (“Archduke”), Op. 97
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Piano Trio in E flat major, WoO 38
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Disc: 1
01. I. Allegro vivace con brio
02. II. Largo assai ed espressivo
03. III. Presto
04. Tema (‘Ja, ich muss mich von ihr scheiden’/Dittersdorf)
05. Var. I
06. Var. II
07. Var. III
08. Var. IV
09. Var. V
10. Var. VI
11. Var. VII
12. Var. VIII
13. Var. IX
14. Var. X
15. Var. XI
16. Var. XII
17. Var. XIII
18. Var. XIV
19. I. Poco sostenuto – Allegro ma non troppo – Tempo I – Tempo II
20. II. Allegretto
21. III. Allegretto ma non troppo
22. IV. Finale: Allegro

Disc: 2
01. I. Allegro moderato
02. II. Scherzo e Trio: Allegro
03. III. Andante cantabile ma per? con moto – Poco pi? adagio – Tempo I –
04. IV. Allegro moderato – Presto
05. I. Allegro moderato
06. II. Scherzo e Trio: Allegro ma non troppo
07. III. Rondo: Allegretto

Almost everything Beethoven ever wrote is outrageously popular. One exception may be these early piano trios – not because they are any the less masterpieces than his others, but because they for some reason get less play than his later works. This 2-CD set is all the argument necessary that these works should get more recognition than they do. They are miniature masterpieces in their own right. It is obvious from the beginning that they were all produced by a genius. The talent of Beethoven is immediately obvious.

Moreover, they are presented in a manner befitting their greatness. The trio of Ashkenazy, Perlman and Harrell leave no stone unturned in their presentation. They blend with each other as if Beethoven had them in mind when he developed the pieces. I haven’t heard all of the recordings of these trios available, but I stand convinced that this set must be among the best – if not THE best. The performers complement each other perfectly!

This set of discs is a must buy at any price, but at EMI’s budget price you would be crazy not to leap at it! The highest recommendation. A+++++