Composer: Johannes Brahms
Performer: Greenwich Trio
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Linn
Catalogue: CKD715
Release: 2023
Size: 1.09 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Piano Trio No. 2 in C major, Op. 87
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Andante con moto
03. III. Scherzo. Presto
04. IV. Finale. Allegro giocoso
String Sextet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 36 (Arr. for Piano Trio by Theodor Kirchner)
05. I. Allegro non troppo
06. II. Scherzo. Allegro non troppo
07. III. Poco adagio
08. IV. Poco allegro
The award-winning Greenwich Trio, comprising Slovenian violinist Lana Trotovšek, Canadian cellist Heather Tuach and Japanese pianist Yoko Misumi, makes its debut on Linn with a recording of Brahms Piano Trios. Pairing Op. 36 with Op. 87, this is the first instalment in a complete trios cycle. Although a string sextet in its original Brahmsian guise, Op. 36 was brilliantly arranged for piano trio by Theodor Kirchner, a contemporary and friend of Johannes. The second of Brahms’s three trios, Op. 87 is a mature work which sees the composer at the height of his compositional writing. Its highly Romantic leaning combined with its Classical structure calls for the sort of sharp skills the Greenwich Trio has in abundance. Having delighted audiences throughout Europe (Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, London’s Kings Place, Rheingau Musik Festival, among others) this debut is eagerly-awaited.
This 2023 release, apparently the first in a cycle of the Brahms trios, is the debut recording by the Greenwich Trio under its current membership; an earlier iteration recorded trios by Mendelssohn in 2012. It includes a work that is not a Brahms trio itself, the transcription of the String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36, made in 1883 by Theodor Kirchner. As annotator Alan George points out, such efforts were common enough at the time, and no doubt plenty of 19th century listeners heard the work in this form. It is a skillful job that catches a surprising amount of the original material, but some of the impact of the original work, which had an influence on Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, is lost. The work is interesting but perhaps an odd choice for a debut recording. The opening work, the Piano Trio No. 2 in C major, Op. 87, is very strong, however. This is a big work in four movements, contemporary with some of Brahms’ large-scale masterpieces, and the brilliant sound of the Greenwich players, especially violinist Lana Trotovšek, serves it well in a sweeping, exciting performance of a work that hasn’t always gotten its due. The Linn label’s sound from Menuhin Hall is ideal, and one awaits with interest future release from the Greenwich Trio, of Brahms and otherwise.