Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Peabody Trio :: Beethoven: Trios, Op. 70

Middle of the road version in modern sound

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 06/12/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Peabody Trio was organized in 1989 from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and made its New York debut in 1990. They have a few other recordings and the notes suggest they champion "new" music.



I would characterize their performance of Beethoven's Op. 70 trios as three individuals focusing on their parts instead of an organic unit. As is commonplace in these groups, the pianist seems to be the leader and plays in highly enunciated fashion where the piano line is always heard above the strings.



The most significant musical feature of the performances is the deliberate "Ghost" figure in Trio No. 5, where they take 12:50 to perform the largo. This is the most slowly paced trajectory I have heard of this section. The remaining sections are traditional in pace, inflection and style.



Of the half-dozen versions of the paired trios I have owned and heard -- by the Suk Trio on Supraphon, the classic Istomin-Casals-et al versions from the 1950s, Barenboim-Dupre-Perlman, the Vienna Trio, and the Stuttgart Trio's reprised recording on Naxos -- I think this recording falls about in the middle. It is better than the boring Vienna Trio, an improvement over the Stuttgart's exaggerated musicmaking and, in my mind, more like Beethoven than the too personal recording of Barenboim, his wife and friend from the 1970s.



However, the individualized rendition by Peabody Trio does not match up well with outstanding versions by the Suk Trio and, especially, the Istomin-Fuchs-Casals & Istomin-Schneider-Casals versions from 1951 and 1953, which still constitute the best combination of musical and technical values. Their recording is dated and mono but still eminently listenable and has a delightful makeweight in the Variations from Handel's "Judas Maccabeus".



I'd say this is a good modern DDD stereo version you can listen to and maybe be happy with if you've never heard really great versions of this music. The Peabody Trio members are talented people that will no doubt improve with age and experience in this music. The modern sound is a little loud, in my opinion, and the high recording level is too brightly lit."

A Wonderful Trio recording great music

T. Sparfeld | Miami, FL | 06/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Peabody Trio is one of the best trios today. I had the opportunity to see them perform live recently and they did a fantastic job with genuine professionalism.



Though they perform and travel often, they do not have many recordings, which is really unfortunate. This recording is of two of Beethoven's trios, Opus 70, Nos. 1 and 2.



The first Trio is in D Major and was nicknamed "The Ghost" because of the low, eerie trills in the piano during the second movement. The second is in E-flat major and has four movements.



I am no sound expert, but I find the recordings to be of good quality. The artists are superb collaborators, which is necessary for any chamber ensemble. I cannot compare it to other Beethoven Trio recordings out there (there are many), but I am certain that this is a great recording. You can't go wrong with this one. Beethoven fans and/or chamber music buffs will especially enjoy this CD.

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