Search - Ludmila Peterkova, Gabriela Demeterova, Markéta Cibulkova :: Clarinet Trios

Good idea for a recording, on the whole well executed

klavierspiel | TX, USA | 05/11/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There is a surprising amount of music for violin, clarinet and piano. This CD includes no less than four works for this combination, including two of the best, Bartok's "Contrasts" and Stravinsky's own arrangement of music from his "Histoire du Soldat." Bartók's three-movement set, written for Benny Goodman, Joseph Szigeti and himself, is neither sonata, suite nor concerto but incorporates elements of all three genres, with dazzling writing for the clarinet and violin (two violins are needed, one with an alternate tuning) set against a self-effacing piano part that the composer wrote for himself, not wanting to outshine his friends. Stravinsky's witty, acerbic score retains most of its punch in this pared-down form. As for the other pieces on this disc, the Milhaud Suite has plenty of melodious if somewhat lightweight appeal, but the Khachaturian is a bit dull in this company. The three Czech women who comprise the ensemble perform with conviction, with violinist Gabriela Demeterova possibly the standout with her brilliant playing in the Bartók, though the last movement (Sebes), which ought to go like the wind in its outer sections, fails to whip up enough excitement. The only other drawback is the rather cheesy cover art, which tries to sell the musicians as a trio of babes à la Eroica; such solid players deserve better."