Search - D-Archi Trio Italiano :: Beethoven: The String Trios [Germany]

AMAZING SOUND FOR LATE 60's RECORDINGS!

06/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I never would have discovered these fine Beethoven works if it hadn't been for the liner notes from the Takacs' excellent release of the early Beethoven quartets. Here it was mentioned that his string trios (which preceded the quartets) have been sadly neglected. This double-CD contains all five string trios plus a serenade for string trio. They were recorded in 1968 & 69 by Trio Italiano d'Archi and have been superbly digitally remastered using 32-bit technology. I've come to expect high-quality sound from DG, but I was still surprised at just how great these sound! Perhaps lacking just a tad of the brightness from a digital recording, the sound is rich and warm, with sufficient stereo separation for a fine headphone experience.
As for the music, it's hard to imagine that such complexity can emanate from just three instruments. These compositions for string trio are every bit as rewarding as Beethoven's better-known quartets. Sad indeed that they have been so neglected...but they need not be any longer...grab this set and find out for yourself. A real treat, both sonically and musically!"

String Trios Op. 9: a Frequently Forgotten Master Set...

Sébastien Melmoth | Hôtel d'Alsace, PARIS | 11/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

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The three Trios of Opus 9 bear the four-movement form of the classical symphony and the string quartet; likewise, they carry a weightier intellectual freight than earlier divertimento forms. (cf. Mozart's masterpiece Mozart: Divertimento In E)



Beethoven greatly valued these works which he considered the best that he had written to that time [1798].



Moods of jollity, mystery, gloom, tension, melancholy, and outright artistic beauty prevail.



Having achieved a masterwork with Op. 9, Beethoven felt free to move on the the quartet form which resulted in the major Quartets Op. 18 [1800].

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