Brahms composed his
Piano Trio in B major, Op. 8 when he
was twenty-one and it was his first
work other than piano music. The composer
described the composition as ‘Wild’
returning to the score thirty-six years
later to make very substantial revisions.
Using original material Brahms completely
re-wrote three of the four movements
in 1890, changing his youthful conception
into a fully mature work. Except for
minor editing Brahms only allowed the
second movement Scherzo to remain
in its original form. It is this
revised version that we encounter in
performance described as his first piano
trio but owing to the amount of revisions
made it could more accurately be described
as his last.
The performance from
the German-based Trio Bamberg is serious,
taut and intelligent with a complete
sense of commitment. I particularly
enjoyed the Bambergs vital and vigorous
playing in the Scherzo. Of the
alternative versions my premier recommendation
is for the eminent Beaux Arts Trio on
Philips 438 365-2. The Beaux Arts play
with a heartfelt glow and a real sense
of joy with more of their unique personality
conveyed compared to the more stern
and unyielding interpretation from the
Trio Bamberg. Playing with real warmth
and refinement the Beaux Arts are supremely
successful in the raptly beautiful third
movement Adagio.
Composed in 1855 the
Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 15 was Smetana’s
first major forward-looking chamber
composition . The impetus for the work
was the tragic death of his young first
daughter. Smetana does not deal with
the terrible events of his daughter’s
death in the piano trio in a detailed
and programmatic way; the score represents
a more generalised musical depiction.
The Trio Bamberg are
in fine form in the Smetana, really
extracting the deeply elegiac and intense
nature of the score. They deserve praise
for their sensitive and expressive playing
in the slow funereal section of the
central movement Allegro ma non troppo.
I feel obliged to mention the playing
of Stephan Gerlinghaus who displays
an exquisite tone in the magnificent
con expessione cello cantilena
of the Finale.
This is a fine release
well performed and recorded. The interpretation
of the Smetana Piano Trio is especially
satisfying.
Michael Cookson
Trio Bamberg 