Composer: Franz Peter Schubert
Performer: Kungsbacka Piano Trio
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Naxos
Catalogue: 8555700
Release: 2006
Size: 252 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major, D929
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Andante con moto
03. III. Scherzando
04. IV. Allegro moderato (original version)
05. Piano Trio in B flat major, D. 28, “Sonatensatz”
The opening to this trio appears to take up the gauntlet thrown down by Beethoven’s mature piano trios – but how very different a path Schubert takes. It’s easy to sound strenuous at the beginning of this movement but it’s not a mistake the Kungsbacka Trio make, sounding strong yet never belligerent, and finding almost as many colours as the miraculous Florestan recording (see above). What is particularly impressive is their confidence and sweep: more extrovert than the soul-searching Florestan Trio, they relish the outgoing E flat major (surely Schubert was inspired by the fact that for Beethoven this was the ultimate heroic key). For the second movement, the Kungsbacka choose their trudging tempo carefully, vividly reminding us that this work dates from the same year as Winterreise. The remaining movements are similarly impressive: the Minuet/Scherzo hybrid, a tail-chasing canon, is great fun, the Trio stomping but never coarse. Unusually, the Kungsbacka choose the composer’s uncut original finale (also offered by the Florestan Trio, as an additional track alongside the shorter version). It’s one of those extraordinary Schubert movements that starts unassumingly and yet stretches out to the horizon, seemingly unstoppable. In the hands of the Kungsbacka, there are no longueurs.
The Kungsbacka fill out their disc with the early Sonatensatz, D28, a delightful little petitfour to complete the feast, elegantly played. This is certainly impressive playing, and a bargain at the price.
The Kungsbacka… might not posses quite the subtlety of the Florestan, but this is certainly impressive playing, and a bargain at the price.