Can you recommend a good current Beethoven PIano Trio recordings?

Kuma,

Pulled out the vinyl last night - Beaux Arts vs Suk

Joseph Suk’s violin sound is delightfully changeable in style and technique, never shrill, maybe old-school manor but always the fine musician and team player. The Cellist, Josef Chuchro frequently produces the most wonderful earthy undertones, a splendid musical performer, none of the trio here dominate but they do get their virtues across in turn. The only neg is the compressed nature of the piano which is a shame to hear a distant plink-plonky piano muffleness. Jan Panenka’s exquisite piano style is often heavier handed than Pressler‘s, but this plays into the Suk Trios dynamic nicely.

The Supraphon Recording (p) & © 1977 is better than that of the Phillips Beaux Arts Trio box-set.

My Legend/Rediffusion vinyl copy is a nice pressing with less surface noise too.

The Beaux Arts Trio - box-set:

I just had a very careful listen session with the Geister-Trio [side 5]

Okay it's only fair to middling, i’ve heard better, but after the 3 movements are over it starts up the 1^st movement of Trio no.6 in E flat major op.70 no.2 that is continued on the flip-over [side 6]

This i find to be a fantastic piece of workmanship, very intricate, multi layered, marvellous, the scherzo is full of soul.

I can still enjoy this box-set, but these recordings are very dated by todays standards.

Debs

Debs.

Thanks for sharing your impression. I will going to give the Beaux Arts No.6/Op.70 no.2 a listen again. This is one of the tunes that I am struggling with as it opens sweet but it gets dull fairly quickly. Demure Allegrettos ( 2nd &3rd movement ) just continue on and on with the same *pretty* theme in dull pastel hues.

I agree with your impression on the Geister as it did not particularly give me the ghostly feeling and their playing style is so dated ending up like a silent film background music to me. :/

Suk Trios from what you wrote seems more right up on my alley.

EJS,

I would like to start from the best and work my way down.

Hope to get to The Trio Wanderer soon.

This is a 1982 Perlman/Ashkenazy/Harrell suggested by Wugged Woy earlier on this thread. This is not a complete Trios, but contains Ghost, Archduke and No.9 WoO 38.
I don't know how you all rate Perlman but I really like their Archduke!

It has a friendlier and more optimistic feel. Perlman's violin is shmultzy but more human to me. Doug mentioned something about joining the conversation but first I need to detect the human life!
With this set, it is more like each musisian telling a story and conversing with others rather than just three instruments playing together without tripping.

Ashkenazy's piano is excellent.  He is much more expressive and has better dynamics. His Andante intro gets me curious about what he has to say then the sweet strings join in his monologue.

The Ghost opens with a dramatic intro with full energy from all performers. Much more dynamic compared to the Beux Arts or Oistrakh set. Largo is filled with emotion and feeling. Piano provides rumbling textures (similar to Schubert's brooding tremollo in D960)  and warm tone of cello works beautifully for Perman's expressive violin. Lively and playful Presto finishes the tune with a strong period. A nice contrast to the solemn middle. So even between the movement they give wider variations which to me easier to follow the entire set.

Oh! their No.9 is great, too. With Beaux Arts it was over if I didn't pay attention to it. For all 3 movements being the same key, they all start to sound the same.

Not so with The Perlman Trio.

Each performer has an equal strength providing enough interest and their spot on timing creates better sense of rhythmic integrity and fresh perspective. Happy hummable middle movement. I get the feeling that they really are having fun with it. Everyone has an equal part providing interesting story.

Doug also touched upon the timing earlier.

Interesging thing is that their timing is slower than Beaux Arts yet Perlman set is so much more engaging to listen to. I much prefer their frank and down to earth personality.

Lucky bonus is that this early digital recording sounds just great. All instruments are equally treated in a well balanced mix. I need to source this in vinyl!

Thanks Wugged Woy for this dark horse recommendation.

It's not current but everyone is still alive at least.

Always listen to your Uncle Wugged .

And currently available from our local rainforest site, cheap as chips  :

Even better. Getting it in vinyl.

Revisiting Beethoven's Trio work again. This set is recommended by CFMF earlier on this thread.


This is a slightly noisy LP but the performance on it is wonderful.
As I expected, I just love the Kempff's piano playing over Beaux Art's Presler. Sting players, too, are much more expressive and there are more varying textures and colours than Beaux Arts.

Tell tale sign is the slow movement. Well thought out stops and space creates much more compelling story telling. I lose interest half way through with Beaux Arts.

It does not have a down to earth conversational quality of Ashkenazy set  but rhythmically alive and this is a well crafted and played out set. Kempff put in his creative spins in subtle ways from the beginning to the end. ( could be I might be more in tune with his style ) Oddly, rather restrained Scherzo keeping a strolling rather than galloping. Kempff  comes alive on the 4th movement with witty accents and phrasing.