There is no shortage
of excellent budget-priced Trouts
in the catalogue, most notably from
Richter and the Borodins on EMI Red
Line, The Schubert Ensemble on Hyperion’s
Dyad series, Ian Brown and the Nash
Ensemble on IMP, Jando and the Kodalys
on Naxos and Curzon and his Vienna colleagues
on Decca. This is just a small cross-section
of the dozens available, so this analogue
re-issue from RCA would have to be pretty
special to find its place.
Whilst I cannot, in
all honesty, say that I heard any special
insights that would raise this version
above the others listed above, it is,
nevertheless, a very pleasing and musically
satisfying rendition. Ax and his collaborators
deliver a version of this much-loved
work that is strong on energy and vitality,
if a little lacking in poetry and grace.
The opening A major arpeggio on the
piano sets the tone – this is a Beethovenian
flourish, with muscle rather than Viennese
charm. Ax’s no-nonsense way with the
second subject also dusts down a few
cobwebs, but a quick comparison with
Curzon shows it to be slightly perfunctory
and a little four-square in its phrasing.
The players do show
a degree of flexibility in the lovely
andante, but the edge of aggression
returns in the scherzo, which is certainly
a true presto but lacks a touch of give
and take. The famous variation movement
comes off well, with the rapport between
strings and piano probably at its best
here. A strong, vibrant finale completes
an invigorating reading that will please
those who like a strong, up-front approach
to this music. The recording is analogue
and has plenty of body, but is balanced
in favour of the strings, with subsequent
loss of some piano detail.
Harrell and Levine’s
Arpeggione is a delight, with
warm, rounded tone and playing of great
variety and colour. They search out
nuances without losing energy or distorting
the phrasing. The sound is digital and
excellent. Like the Trout, there
is no shortage of serious competition
in this piece, but it completes a good
budget disc which, if you were to purchase
on impulse, would certainly not disappoint.
Tony Haywood
Emanuel Ax (piano) 