Trio Wanderer - Brahms: Complete piano Trios (2016)

Tracklist
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CD1
01. Trio No. 1 en Si Majeur, Op. 8: I. Allegro con brio
02. Trio No. 1 en Si Majeur, Op. 8: II. Scherzo. Allegro molto
03. Trio No. 1 en Si Majeur, Op. 8: III. Adagio
04. Trio No. 1 en Si Majeur, Op. 8: IV. Allegro
05. Trio No. 2 en Ut Majeur, Op. 87: I. Allegro
06. Trio No. 2 en Ut Majeur, Op. 87: II. Andante con moto
07. Trio No. 2 en Ut Majeur, Op. 87: III. Scherzo. Presto
08. Trio No. 2 en Ut Majeur, Op. 87: IV. Finale. Allegro giocoso

CD2
01. Trio No. 3 en Ut Mineur, Op. 101: I. Allegro energico
02. Trio No. 3 en Ut Mineur, Op. 101: II. Presto non assai
03. Trio No. 3 en Ut Mineur, Op. 101: III. Andante grazioso
04. Trio No. 3 en Ut Mineur, Op. 101: IV. Finale. Allegro molto
05. Quatuor avec piano en Sol Mineur, Op. 25: I. Allegro
06. Quatuor avec piano en Sol Mineur, Op. 25: II. Intermezzo. Allegro (ma non troppo)
07. Quatuor avec piano en Sol Mineur, Op. 25: III. Andante con moto
08. Quatuor avec piano en Sol Mineur, Op. 25: IV. Rondo alla zingarese. Presto


Robust? Vigorous? Muscular? None of those adjectives even come close to describing these performances by the French Trio Wanderer of Brahms' three piano trios and G minor Piano Quartet. The opening theme of the Allegro con brio in the B flat Trio has rarely sounded so lushly sonorous. The passage work of the Scherzo in the C major Trio has not often been so incredibly relentless. The unisons at the start of the C minor Trio have never been so immensely powerful. The cadenza in the G minor Quartet's Rondo alla Zingarese has never been taken at such a breakneck tempo. For some listeners, it may ultimately prove all too exhausting. The Trio Wanderer is a first-class group with an enormous sound, tight ensemble, and virtuoso technique, but the interpretations here are so unbearably intense and overwhelmingly expressive that listeners used to the more refined sound and more reserved interpretations by, say, the Beaux Arts Trio, might find them too extravagantly Romantic. But even they will have to admit that, taken a work at a time with suitable pauses in between for rest, refreshment, and reinforcement, the Trio Wanderer's performances are quite impressive, particularly in Harmonia Mundi's big, close, and colorful sound.

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