Mozart's six piano trios are intimate works, but these three in particular balance the instruments so well and give each so much to do that they have a grandeur all their own; they never seem slight. All of these are lateM... more »ozart (two were composed after his 31st birthday). Mutter, as one might expect, plays them with warmth and a clear eye toward the 19th century; in other words, these are very romantic readings. This approach works exceptionally well in the rapturous slow movements of the 6th and 5th, the former marked "cantabile" and the latter "grazioso." Mutter and company play them exactly as marked ,and her ardency is beyond criticism. It is here that her partners are at their best as well: Müller-Schott's cello sings beautifully, and Previn's piano playing is a lesson in legato. Throughout, Mutter plays with impeccable technique and pitch; indeed, her ease in all passages is a joy to behold. Contrarily, Previn occasionally sounds rushed in fast passages. Some might prefer their Mozart to be more "classical, " i.e., crisper and with somewhat less sliding, but there's no denying the sheer loveliness--and love of music-making--that one gets from this CD. --Robert Levine« less
Mozart's six piano trios are intimate works, but these three in particular balance the instruments so well and give each so much to do that they have a grandeur all their own; they never seem slight. All of these are lateMozart (two were composed after his 31st birthday). Mutter, as one might expect, plays them with warmth and a clear eye toward the 19th century; in other words, these are very romantic readings. This approach works exceptionally well in the rapturous slow movements of the 6th and 5th, the former marked "cantabile" and the latter "grazioso." Mutter and company play them exactly as marked ,and her ardency is beyond criticism. It is here that her partners are at their best as well: Müller-Schott's cello sings beautifully, and Previn's piano playing is a lesson in legato. Throughout, Mutter plays with impeccable technique and pitch; indeed, her ease in all passages is a joy to behold. Contrarily, Previn occasionally sounds rushed in fast passages. Some might prefer their Mozart to be more "classical, " i.e., crisper and with somewhat less sliding, but there's no denying the sheer loveliness--and love of music-making--that one gets from this CD. --Robert Levine
CD Reviews
Disappointing
Ralphus | Goyang, Gynggi-Do Korea (South) | 03/16/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I suppose I'm a victim of the hype. Flashy packaging aside, there doesn't seem to be too much to praise about this release.
I confess that I don't know Mozart's piano trios very well. I bought this CD in order to get to know them better. Also, I do tend to prefer good period performances of this kind of repertoire, but not slavishly so.
Furthermore, I've never been much of a fan of Anne-Sophie Mutter (though I love her Sibelius, also with Andre Previn coincidentally) and here I feel she over-plays the music and there is a lack of real blending with her accomplices. This is a common problem with chamber music recordings performed by 'stars' (established or rising) assembled together, as opposed to those by dedicated ensembles.
Daniel Muller-Schott is a fine young cellist (and rising star) but there are some moments of questionable intonation that really stand out.
The biggest disappointment for me is the venerable Andre Previn. I've always had a soft spot for Andre--perhaps since hearing his Vaughan Williams symphony cycle all those years ago--but there are too many moments on this disc where it really sounds like fast passages are getting away from him and he's close to tripping over his fingers. There are some wrong notes. His phrasing too is lacking. It sounds like he just wants to hurry up and get to the end without really shaping the phrases.
These are live recordings so maybe I'm being a little harsh, but for me this was a disappointing purchase. Diehard fans of Anne-Sophie may still enjoy this release."
Beautiful as always...
MWA MD | Santa Monica, CA USA | 03/17/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anne-Sophie has the most beautiful tone and touch with the violin, and is the definitive expression of Mozart and Beethhoven violin works. Her 250 year Mozart Birthday cycle is beautiful as ever, and this recording is a must-have for lovers of Mozart, and violin."
Solid Live Performance Recording
Professor Donald Mitchell | Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 97,000 Helpfu | 03/16/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Most classical music fans hear a lot more polished studio recordings than they do live concerts and recordings of the same. As a result, it's easy to create exaggerated expectations of a live performance's recording.
Let me start by praising what's excellent about this recording: Balance. It's easy for a piano trio to lose its balance. One performer may stand-out too much, or another may fade into the background too much. With Mozart, all the parts are important and deserve careful attention by performers and listeners. For a live performance, this CD is amazingly well balanced. I would rarely expect to hear a concert with this degree of balance. Bravo!
In addition, each of the performers brings some personal quirks to the performance that add uniqueness. Ms. Mutter, of course, is known for her 19th century interpretations of Mozart . . . but she restrains her enormous power and passion to stay within the composition. Mr. Muller-Schott brings a youthful genuineness to his cello parts that deepen the meanings of the three works. Mr. Previn displays his awareness of different ways of interpreting these trios and gives some unexpected readings that you'll pay attention to.
The main weakness of the recordings is that Mr. Previn's part seems to either be a bit above his skill level or he didn't practice enough. Some of the piano parts seem out of control and you'll hear discordant notes that Mozart didn't intend. As a minor weakness, each performer held back just a little too much in exposing their most evocative music. Perhaps it's our awareness of jazz but when someone has the stage for a few bars and the part is exquisite, it's wonderful to hear that part sing a bit more.
Don't judge the rest of Mutter Mozart, Ms. Mutter's series of three recordings to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, by this recording. The other two sets of recordings, Violin Concertos with Sinfonia Concertante and Violin Sonatas, are wonderful.
My advice is to buy all three parts of Mutter Mozart. Your days will be filled with more joy if you do. I like to write while listening to these recordings and find them to be very good for my heart, mind, and soul.
"
Music at it's best
Peter Chordas | Portland, OR USA | 03/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Whether listening intently or just playing it in the background for company or cleaning house, this CD is a "must have." I must admit that I had reservations at first since I am not a big fan of Andre Previn (especially as a conductor). I feel he rushes though most compositions which takes away from the lyrical aspect of the pieces he performs. But Anne Sophie Mutter on the other hand has the ability to take things to a higher level, and in this case she does!
I won't begin to act like a music critic and start describing and analyzing each piece (as so many people in these reviews tend to do). You can read the liner notes for that. The bottom line is, the music is beautiful and engaging. Technically, it is challenging and this trio is able to play it beautifully with what sounds like relative ease. Mrs. Mutter has recorded three Mozart recordings last year and all of them are well worth buying. If you love Mozart and you love Anne Sophie Mutter, then this CD is a must."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1