Track Listing

1. Trio �l�giaque, for piano & strings in G minor, TN ii/34
2. Pieces (2) for cello & piano, Op. 2: No. 1, Prelude in F major (from: Prelude for piano of 1891)
3. Pieces (2) for cello & piano, Op. 2: No. 2, Oriental Dance in A minor
4. Pieces (2) for violin & piano, Op. 6: No. 1, Romance in D minor
5. Pieces (2) for violin & piano, Op. 6: No. 2, Hungarian Dance in D minor
6. Trio �l�giaque, for piano & strings in D minor, Op. 9: No. 1, Moderato - Allegro vivace
7. Trio �l�giaque, for piano & strings in D minor, Op. 9: No. 2, Quasi Variazione
8. Trio �l�giaque, for piano & strings in D minor, Op. 9: No. 3, Allegro risoluto - Moderato

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #239850 in Music
• Released on: 2001-01-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.com
These delicious aperitifs by Serge Rachmaninov for piano trio are not quite minor efforts, but they are the product of Rachmaninov's youth. All were composed by the time Rachmaninov was 21, and he wrote no other chamber works after 1900--which is a shame, because he was good at it. The most famous of these works, the Piano Trio No. 1 in G minor, is recognizably the work of a Romantic genius. Its main theme is as memorable as anything Rachmaninov ever wrote. Perhaps less memorable is the Piano Trio No. 2 in D minor. This is a more dolorous affair and exhibits, at least in the role of the piano, elements of Chopin the young composer had studied. The Moscow Rachmaninov Trio takes to these works with clear affection, even if the studio ambience is a bit muddled on Trio No. 2. Still, this disc is to be recommended, especially for the filler, two works for cello and piano and violin and piano. Very nice indeed. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews

Good performances, plus a couple of rarities
Contrary to what the reviewer Paul Cook says, the Piano Trio #1 in G minor is not the more famous of the two works. It was not published until 1947 (it was composed in 1892), and it is not clear what caused Rachmaninov to compose it (it's all in the liner notes, and books about the composer). It's a powerful, short work, and is very much in the Rachmaninov mold. The Piano Trio #2 in D minor IS the more famous of the two trios, and was composed in "memory of a great artist"--Tchaikovsky, who was a great supporter of Rachmaninov's works. The Trio #2 is emotional and passionate, longer in construction, with a difficult piano part that tends to overshadow the strings. But, it is a memorable work, and it's a pity that Rachmaninov did not write more chamber music.

The Moscow Rachmaninoff Trio do a credible job performing these pieces, but the acoustics are sometimes not the best, and the sound is muffled and muddy at times. Also, they tend to rein in the passion at times when it is most needed.

The Two Pieces for violin and piano, Op. 6, are a real treat, as they have not, to my knowledge, been recorded previously. Tsinman and Yampolsky work together well, and the violin sings above the difficult piano part. It's a shame Rachmaninov never wrote a longer work for violin and orchestra--he clearly had a feeling for the instrument.

In all, a good disc, but for just the trios alone, I would go with the recording made by the Beaux Arts Trio some years ago--extremely emotional and passionate, but not over-the-top.