The Beethoven Project Trio (World Premiere Performances of Beethoven Trios)

The obvious "hook" for this CD is the fact that it contains the world premier recordings of Beethoven's Trio in E-Flat Major, Hess 47, as well as the Piano Trio in D Major, Kinsky/Halm Anhang 3. How could any Beethoven lover resist! As it turns out, the recording is simply wonderful - the trio having been formed for the specific purpose of playing these pieces in concert as part of the International Beethoven Project, and having been familiar with each other since very early in their careers (the pianist having played with the violinist in the past, and the violinist having played with the cellist since their teenage years). These people feel comfortable with each other, and it shows.

The instruments used are a Fazioli Concert Grand F278 (played by pianist George Lepauw) that has an incredible warm sound, the 1713 Cooper-Hakkert Stradivarius (played by violinist Sang Mee Lee), and a 1772 Gagliano (played by cellist Wendy Warner). The recording was made at the American Academy of Arts and Letters in New York and is an example of what a well recorded chamber music concert should be, the instruments shining individually and blending with each other as appropriate. The liner notes are also informative and well written.

As for the music itself, it is not the somber fist-in-the-air Beethoven that some might expect. Rather, it is the music of friends (as depicted by each of the three instruments) getting together to share an afternoon of experiences and good company, and we are privileged to listen in and be a part of it. The interplay between the three is particularly pleasant in the Piano Trio in D Major, as well as in the Andante movement of the Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, Opus 63. This is good music, lovingly played by a newly formed trio that has decided to stay together to perform and record Beethoven's other Trio works. Good news indeed for this listener!

This Cedille disc is for Beethoven fans who want to hear everything the man might ever have written, for audiophiles who want to hear the best in sound reproduction, and for music lovers who simply want to hear some lovely tunes. In any case, the listener can't lose.

The Beethoven Project Trio are a Chicago-based ensemble formed in 2008 and comprised of George Lepauw, piano, Sang Mee Lee, violin, and Wendy Warner, cello. Their goal is to explore Beethoven's trios within the context of all the trio works that have come after them. However, they do not confine themselves entirely to Beethoven and have branched out into Brahms, Mozart, and Schubert. For the present historic recording, Mr. Lepauw plays a Fazioli concert grand, model F278; Ms. Lee plays a 1713 Cooper-Hakkert Stradivarius; and Ms. Warner plays a 1772 Giuseppe Gagliano, all on generous loan.

John J. Puccio
Classical Candor

This is an interesting disc containing three virtually unknown trios for violin, cello and piano by Beethoven: the single movement Trio in E flat Major, Hess 47 (a transcription by Beethoven of the first movement of his Op. 3 string trio), the two movement trio in D Major, Kinsky/Halm Anhang 3, originally thought to be by Mozart, and the Piano Trio in E Flat Major, Op 63, an arrangement, believed by Liszt and others to be the work of Beethoven, of his string quintet, Op. 4. This is the world premiere recording of the first two of the trios.

I must say, now that I know them, I understand why they are unknown. It is not that the music does not have charm, it does. But we have come to expect so much more than charming from Beethoven, and his great piano trios are incredible works of the genre.

The playing is fine. These are gifted and dedicated chamber musicians. The sound suffers from what I call digitalitis. The piano fares well enough, though the richness of the Fazioli sound is lost. The violin and cello do not have the warmth that I suspect was in the playing of the two excellent string players, the tone is without depth and the attacks are strident. The violin is a Strad, and the cello a Gagliano, all superb instruments deserving of more faithful sonic reproduction.

Perhaps an analog LP version, or even a digital version on LP, would move me, but I can't help wondering if Beethoven would have bothered returning to these early works to make new arrangements had he not been in need of funds.

I am afraid this is a disc for those whose interest in Beethoven runs to the academic.