Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Piano Trio No. 4 in E major, K. 542: Allegro
2. Piano Trio No. 4 in E major, K. 542: Andante grazioso
3. Piano Trio No. 4 in E major, K. 542: Finale, Allegro
4. Piano Trio No. 3 in B flat major, K. 502: Allegro
5. Piano Trio No. 3 in B flat major, K. 502: Larghetto
6. Piano Trio No. 3 in B flat major, K. 502: Allegretto
7. Piano Trio No. 6 in G major, K. 564: Allegro
8. Piano Trio No. 6 in G major, K. 564: Theme with 6 Variations, Andante
9. Piano Trio No. 6 in G major, K. 564: Allegretto
10. Piano Trio No. 5 in C major, K. 548: Allegro
11. Piano Trio No. 5 in C major, K. 548: Andante cantabile
12. Piano Trio No. 5 in C major, K. 548: Allegro

Disc 2:

1. Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat major, K. 254: Allegro assai
2. Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat major, K. 254: Adagio
3. Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat major, K. 254: Rondeaux, Tempo di Menuetto
4. Piano Trio No. 2 in G major, K. 496: Allegro
5. Piano Trio No. 2 in G major, K. 496: Andante
6. Piano Trio No. 2 in G major, K. 496: Allegretto
7. Trio for clarinet (or violin), viola & piano in E flat major ('Kegelstatt'), K. 498: Andante
8. Trio for clarinet (or violin), viola & piano in E flat major ('Kegelstatt'), K. 498: Menuetto & Trio
9. Trio for clarinet (or violin), viola & piano in E flat major ('Kegelstatt'), K. 498: Rondeaux, Allegretto

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43582 in Music
• Brand: Philips
• Released on: 1995-04-11
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Customer Reviews

Beautifully played Mozart chamber music!
This 2-CD set contains some of Mozart's loveliest chamber music. Originally recorded in 1967-1970, the Beaux Arts Trio, (then comprised of pianist Menahem Pressler, violinist Daniel Guilet, and cellist Bernard Greenhouse) play with great sensitivity and warmth . Mozart composed most his piano trios during the last five years of his life - from 1786 through 1788. Here we see him at "full stretch," with his chamber music style fully developed. The Beaux Arts do an admirable job of conveying the necessary atmosphere of intimacy and serenity, and at the same time great vitality, in their playing. Outer movements are at just the right tempo to give the music a joyful exuberance, and the slow movements convey a wonderful sense of peacefulness. Also included in this set is Mozart's famous clarinet trio, the "Kegelstett." Stephen Kovacevic (piano), Jack Brymer (clarinet), and Patrick Ireland (viola) play with a dynamic musicianship equal to that of the Beaux Arts Trio; as a result, the "Kegelstett" is just as impressive as the piano trios.

The CD sound quality is excellent, with a high degree of realism and immediacy. However, these analog recordings, originally mastered over thirty years ago, do have a bit thinner string timbre, which seems more prominent with the violin. Still, this detracts very little from an overall wonderful listening experience. Highly recommended!

Elegance
These performances are wonderful, pure, relaxed and elegant. Mozart's Piano Trios are mostly mature works, still more easy listening and less expressive, less demanding than his "Haydn" quartets, most essential string quintets (K. 515, 516, 593), the piano/wind quintet (K 452), the piano quartet (K. 478) and the trio labelled "Divertimento" (K. 563). This makes it more difficult to explain what their charm consists in. Let me try with words like playful coolness, charming equanimity, happy serenity, light imperturbability, natural elegance, soothing purity or unruffled whiteness... Elegance is the keyword.

BEAUX ARTS' MOZART MAKES THIS KITTY PURR!!! (SNOOKIE)
I have had this recording for about five years, and have enjoyed it immensley. Recorded in the 1960's, it features the original personnel (Menahem Pressler, Piano - Daniel Guilet, Violin - Bernard Greenhouse, Cello).

The Beaux Arts Trio is just wonderful in this literature. Menahem Pressler's dynamic shading, articulation, and interactions with the other instruments are always "just right".

The sound of the recording itself is fine. Even though it was recorded in 1967, it was digitally remastered to cd.

I highly recommend this set. The Beaux Arts has been around for over 40 years. As a result, they have a lot of experience playing with each other, and it shows in this masterful compilation.