Haydn, Beethoven, Schumann, Fauré: Piano Trios, Piano Quartets (2 CD, APE)

Composer: Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann, Gabriel Fauré
Performer: Emil Gilels, Leonid Kogan, Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Barshai
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 352 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc 1
Haydn piano trio in g minor, hob XV:19 (Recording in Moscow/1950)
Beethoven piano trio in e flat major, Woo38 (Recording in Moscow/1950)
Beethoven piano trio in b flat major, Op. 97 “Archduke” (Recording in Moscow/1956)

Disc 2
Haydn piano trio in d major, hob XV:16 (Recording in Moscow/1951)
Schumann piano trio No.1 in d minor, Op.63 (Recording in Moscow/1958)
Faure piano quartet No.1 in c minor, Op.15 (Recording in Moscow/1958)

Disc 1:
01. Piano Trio in G minor, H.XV No.19 – 1. Andante – Presto
02. Piano Trio in G minor, H.XV No.19 – 2. Adagio, ma non troppo
03. Piano Trio in G minor, H.XV No.19 – 3. Presto
04. Piano Trio No.9 in E flat, WoO 38 – 1. Allegro moderato
05. Piano Trio No.9 in E flat, WoO 38 – 2. Scherzo (Allegro ma non troppo)
06. Piano Trio No.9 in E flat, WoO 38 – 3. Rondo (Allegretto)
07. Piano Trio No.7 in B flat, Op.97 “Archduke” – 1. Allegro moderato
08. Piano Trio No.7 in B flat, Op.97 “Archduke” – 2. Scherzo (Allegro)
09. Piano Trio No.7 in B flat, Op.97 “Archduke” – 3. Andante cantabile, ma però con moto – Poco più adagio
10. Piano Trio No.7 in B flat, Op.97 “Archduke” – 4. Allegro moderato

Disc 2:
01. Piano Trio in D, H.XV No.16 – 1. Allegro
02. Piano Trio in D, H.XV No.16 – 2. Andantino più tosto allegretto
03. Piano Trio in D, H.XV No.16 – 3. Vivace assai
04. Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op.63 – 1. Mit Energie und Leidenschaft
05. Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op.63 – 2. Lebhaft, doch nicht zu rasch
06. Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op.63 – 3. Langsam, mit inniger Empfindung
07. Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op.63 – 4. Mit Feuer
08. Piano Quartet No.1 in C minor, Op.15 – 1. Allegro molto moderato
09. Piano Quartet No.1 in C minor, Op.15 – 2. Scherzo (Allegro vivo)
10. Piano Quartet No.1 in C minor, Op.15 – 3. Adagio
11. Piano Quartet No.1 in C minor, Op.15 – 4. Allegro molto

Classic perfomrances

While these pieces all enjoy many fine recordings, this set features some very special interpretations by three of Russia’s greatest musicians working as a trio — violinist Leonid Kogan, cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, and pianist Emil Gilels. (Gilels and Kogan were related by marriage.) The young Rudolf Barshai plays the viola in the Faure Quartet No. 1. The monaural sound is somewhat limited, though cleaned up very well compared to many other Soviet recordings form this era. As for the performance, the Beethoven “Archduke” Trio alone is worth the price of the set — it remains my desert island version of that work.

There is only one reason not to buy this set — if instead you buy the 5-CD set on Doremi that includes all of these works plus many others by the same performers.