BAL 15/1/11 Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio, Op 50

[french frank]

0930
Building a Library

David Fanning compares the available recordings of Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio Op 50, subtitled "In memory of a great artist" for his close friend and mentor Nikolai Rubinstein.


Recommended version:
Pinchas Zukerman (violin), Jacqueline du Pre (cello), Daniel Barenboim (piano)

[DracoM]

Never thought I'd ever say this, but the relief from Mozart will be extreme. I've had it up to here with Mozart for a very, very long time, I fear. effectively killed him stone dead for me.

So roll on Tchaik Piano Trio!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Never thought I'd ever say this, but the relief from Mozart will be extreme. I've had it up to here with Mozart for a very, very long time, I fear. effectively killed him stone dead for me.

So roll on Tchaik Piano Trio!

I'm really looking forward to this, having played in it on a number of occasions. Some of Tchaikovsky's better piano writing too. <ok>

[verismissimo]

I've only ever had the London Czech Trio recording from 1971 on Unicorn (which I think is cut). And I've never heard it in concert so far as I can recall. It's a fine piece!

Who do boarders admire in it?

[verismissimo]

And thanks for this useful new facility, ff. :)

[french frank]

And thanks for this useful new facility, ff. :)

We haven't had any BaLs recently so I thought it worth seeking out the next one. I hope others will ensure in future that the new BaLs are flagged up (perhaps basing the subject title style on this current one?) now that it has its own sub-forum.

[aeolium]

I love this work - and indeed Tchaikovsky's other chamber music works. I've heard it in concert many times but the only recorded versions I know are the Perlman/Ashkenazy/Harrell one (very good) and the Borodin Trio (also good though I prefer Perlman & co). I'd be interested to hear views of the Richter/Gutman/Kagan recording and also the historic Rubinstein/Heifetz/Piatigorsky version. What about Istomin/Stern/Rose, very good in Beethoven - have they recorded the Tchaikovsky?

[Don Petter]

One of my favourite chamber works, too. On CD I have recordings by the Beaux Arts (two recordings, with different incarnations of the trio), Lenigrad Philharmonic Trio, Moscow Trio, Oistrakh/Oborin/Knushevitsky Trio and Borodin Trio. My index shows me that I have nine other recordings on LP, but they are boxed up somewhere and not readily to hand!

I must find the CD versions and have a mini-BaL before the 15th, if I have time. From memory my preferred versions are the earlier BAT and the Oistrakh, but it’s a robust work which can stand a variety of interpretations, all of which I have enjoyed.

[PatrickOD]

I have , on tape, Daniel Barenboim, Jacqueline Du Pre, Pinchas Zuckerman, recorded from Radio 3 in 1972. It's the only one I know so will be paying attention on 15th.

[Pianorak]

Really looking forward to that. My favourite performance on disc: R. Friend, T. Hugh and Y. Solomon.
Argerich, Kremer and Maisky are ok - but a bit too smooth in my view.

I knew I had forgotten a couple of "favourites": Rubinstein/Heifetz/Piatigorsky and the Beaux Arts Trio

[Basil]

I have , on tape, Daniel Barenboim, Jacqueline Du Pre, Pinchas Zuckerman, recorded from Radio 3 in 1972. It's the only one I know so will be paying attention on 15th.

It's on the complete Du Pre EMI box set recently released.

[salymap]

I have a lovely old LP by the Suk Trio, Josef Suk, Jan Panenka and Josef Churchro. recorded 1977

[aeolium]

I cannot ever recall hearing a performance of this work that I didn't enjoy, but I'm sure the BaL reviewer will find all kinds of disappointments in the various recordings. The best reviewers, imo, do not try and compare actual performances against an imagined ideal but can admire utterly different performances. This is one respect where the old Interpretations on Record programme improved on BaL, in that there was no striving to discover the 'best' but a celebration of different approaches.

[Alison]

I cannot ever recall hearing a performance of this work that I didn't enjoy, .

Yes, I absolutely agree Aeolium.

I have an excellent if slightly obscure version by Trio Nobilis on the Blue Griffin label. I learnt the work from an old Beaux Arts LP owned by my father.
It's a splendid work to take down from the shelves occasionally. I have never craved for multiple CD versions.

[Don Petter]

I learnt the work from an old Beaux Arts LP owned by my father.
It's a splendid work to take down from the shelves occasionally. I have never craved for multiple CD versions.

That would probably be the version I remember with affection, both on LP and reissued in the BAT retrospective 4CD box. (Isidore Cohen playing violin.)