MusicWeb International One of the most grown-up review sites around 2024
60,000 reviews
... and still writing ...

Search MusicWeb Here Acte Prealable Polish CDs
 

Presto Music CD retailer
 
Founder: Len Mullenger                                    Editor in Chief:John Quinn             

CD REVIEW
RECORDING OF THE MONTH



Some items
to consider

new MWI
Current reviews

old MWI
pre-2023 reviews

paid for
advertisements

Acte Prealable Polish recordings

Forgotten Recordings
Forgotten Recordings
All Forgotten Records Reviews

TROUBADISC
Troubadisc Weinberg- TROCD01450

All Troubadisc reviews


FOGHORN Classics

Alexandra-Quartet
Brahms String Quartets

All Foghorn Reviews


All HDTT reviews


Songs to Harp from
the Old and New World


all Nimbus reviews



all tudor reviews


Follow us on Twitter


Editorial Board
MusicWeb International
Founding Editor
   
Rob Barnett
Editor in Chief
John Quinn
Contributing Editor
Ralph Moore
Webmaster
   David Barker
Postmaster
Jonathan Woolf
MusicWeb Founder
   Len Mullenger


alternatively AmazonUK   AmazonUS

 

 

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano Trio No.1 in B flat D.898 (1827) [39:46]
Piano Trio No.2 in E flat D.929 (1827) [42:52]
Notturno in E flat D.897 (1827) [8:40]
Sonatensatz D.28 (1812) [7:16]
Frank Braley (piano); Renaud Capuçon (violin); Gautier Capuçon (cello)
rec. MC2 Maison de la Culture de Grenoble, 10-12 Sept. 2006
VIRGIN CLASSICS 00946 365476 2 [47:11 + 51:40]

 


It’s not long ago I was being pretty dismissive of a Gemini budget reissue of these works (see review) from an earlier distinguished group of French musicians (Collard, Dumay, Lodéon), so it’s good to report a very different experience here. In fact, Braley and the Capuçon brothers have steadily been making waves in a number of areas: solo, concerto and chamber. This Schubert playing contains, quite simply, some of the most charming, poetic and exhilarating music-making I’ve heard in a while.

It’s been said often enough that getting the right tempo solves many musical problems. It may be simplistic, but there’s some truth in it, and these players seem to gauge each movement’s pulse and phrasing to perfection. I have to confess to liking bright, swift (ish) speeds for these works, but not accompanied by aggression or brashness – as above. Here, the bounce and lilt of the outer movements is perfectly contrasted by smooth, flowing inner movements. The imperious, forthright opening of the E flat recalls Beethoven and is indicative of the players’ general approach to the music. They are careful to observe in the famous march-like andante the additional marking con moto, and I think the balance of wistful nostalgia and forward momentum is just right. Braley’s sparkling finger-work in some of the trickier passages is a delight, as in the scherzo of the B flat, but there is such a feeling of true partnership and give-and-take between the three that criticism really is almost silenced. Though it hardly matters with playing of this quality, I have to mention that the fillers aren’t as generous as some rivals; mind you, I could easily live without the youthful Sonatensatz, whereas the Notturno is rather special, a raptly emotive little treasure that looks ahead to the poetic glories of the String Quintet, and is played here with a treasurable simplicity that eschews all sentimentality.

This is easily one of the best chamber discs to come my way for a while, and goes straight to the top for my recommendations of these wonderful works. Notes are adequate and audio quality excellent.

Tony Haywood

 

 

 


Advertising on
Musicweb


Donate and keep us afloat

 

New Releases

Naxos Classical
All Naxos reviews

Chandos recordings
All Chandos reviews

Hyperion recordings
All Hyperion reviews

Foghorn recordings
All Foghorn reviews

Troubadisc recordings
All Troubadisc reviews



all Bridge reviews


all cpo reviews

Divine Art recordings
Click to see New Releases
Get 10% off using code musicweb10
All Divine Art reviews


All Eloquence reviews

Lyrita recordings
All Lyrita Reviews

 

Wyastone New Releases
Obtain 10% discount

Subscribe to our free weekly review listing

 

 

Return to Review Index

Untitled Document


Reviews from previous months
Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details
We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board
Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer.