The music here is quite
listenable; at times urgently compelling,
at other times more quietly charming,
more melodic and graceful in style than
similar works by Beethoven (anybody’s
would be) and a little less glib than
those by Mendelssohn (again, almost
anybody’s would be) perhaps sounding
like very, very late Mozart, say about
1798. The performers are thoroughly
committed. It is difficult to imagine
the music being performed any better
than this.
The jewelbox erroneously
lists Ries’ death year as ‘1873.’ Especially
when we are being presented with unfamiliar
music, it must be pointed out that there
is room on this disk for a third piano
quartet or other similar work. A good
choice would have been Ries’ Piano Quartet
#3, Op 129.
Ries was born 18 November
1784 in Bonn. His father Franz Anton
Ries had been Beethoven’s violin teacher
in Bonn. Ferdinand studied piano with
Beethoven from 1802 to 1805, studied
cello with Romberg, and composition
with Albrechtsburger. When Ries was
ready to look for a job, Beethoven helped
him with recommendations. J. P. Salomon
had been a teacher of the elder Ries,
and Salomon invited Ferdinand to London
in 1813. Ries performed his own works
there as well as Beethoven’s with the
Philharmonic Society, thereby increasing
the popularity of Beethoven in England.
In 1814 he married an English woman
then retired to Germany. Ferdinand died
in 1838.
CPO’s recording of
Ries’ Symphonies 7 & 8 was well
reviewed by me on MusicWeb. But these
trios are finer music, and more original
than the symphonies. If there was more
justice in the musical world they’d
be heard much more often.
Paul Shoemaker
Mendelssohn Trio Berlin: Stephen Picard,
violin; Ramon Jaffé, ’cello; Andreas Frölich,
Steinway D piano; Daniel Raiskin, viola 