The Mozartean Players - Mozart - Complete Piano Trios (2006)

The quality of the recorded sound is so perfectly clear on this recording, like finely etched crystal, while at the same time it is so robust and resonant, that it is difficult to believe that the piano played on these two marvelous CDs is a replica of a 1785 Walter fortepiano, a smaller and much more fragile instrument than today's modern concert grand pianos.

Steve Lubin's heavenly playing on this period instrument fortepiano conveys a sound of precision and refinement that might not be as readily attainable if these compositions were performed on a modern Steinway Grand piano. What is also conveyed by all three musicians is the sheer effervescent joy and bouyant enthusiasm in the allegro movements and the refined delicate beauty of the adagio movements.

Not only the piano, but the cello and violin are also superbly played by the musicians, who are perfectly in synch with each other, performing every note in seamless unity. Although Mozart's piano trios have been considered as being among his lighter works, this evaluation should perhaps be revised and take into account that five of Mozart's six complete piano trios were composed in the last ten years of his life, during the period of his full musical maturity, after he had left Salzburg for Vienna. As Steve Lubin writes in the informative CD-insert essay "three of the Vienna trios, in fact, are masterworks."

Even the less fully developed "Divertimento in B-flat major," composed when Mozart was 20 years old, is very much worth listening to. This 2-CD set of radiant musical gems is a pristine example of exquisitely performed chamber music.

"Their performances are delightful. Steven Lubin's fortepiano delivers cool, glittering streams of tone set perfectly against the lithe, crystalline quality of Stanley Ritchie's violin and Myron Lutzke's lean, resinous cello. ...the music itself really does gleam with freshness and vitality..." -- Classic CD

"These musicians play with dedication, affection, and impeccable taste." -- American Record Guide