Storioni Trio – Beethoven: Piano Trios Nos. 2 & 5 (2005) CD-Rip

Dutch musicians are different. They are absolutely objective, but deeply passionate; completely faithful to the letter of the score, but totally in touch with the spirit behind the score; wholly dedicated to their ensemble, but profoundly individualistic in their expression. In these ways, the Storioni Trio is the epitome of Dutch music-making. On this disc, the Storioni Trio fully inhabits not only the late eighteenth century world of Beethoven's early E flat major Trio Op. 1/2, but also the early nineteenth century world of Beethoven's later D major Trio, Op. 70/1, nicknamed the "Ghost." The trio's performance of Op. 1/2 is lightly graceful in the Allegro vivace, Scherzo, and Finale, but fully felt in the introductory Adagio and especially the Largo con espressione. The performance of Op. 70/1 is unbearably exciting in the opening Allegro vivace e con brio, overwhelmingly affecting in the central Largo assai ed espressivo, and incredibly thrilling in the closing Presto. Each player of the Trio is a virtuoso with a warm tone and an agile technique, but together they become more than the sum of their parts, a virtuoso ensemble that embodies all that is good in Dutch musicians. PentaTone's super audio sound is cool, clear, and deep.