Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Daniel Barenboim :: Mozart: Piano Trios

Nice Recording

A. Roth | Baltimore, MD | 02/07/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not sure why this album has not been reviewed before. One would think that Barenboim would lend it enough prestige to get it noticed. Basically, what we have here is Barenboim and two younger musicians. It is actually nice to see a major figure recording with young performers who likely would not get recorded otherwise. One is reminded of the relationship between Klemperer and the young Barenboim, so it is nice to see him give back.



To the album itself. What you have are the complete piano trios and the Kegelstatt trio. The sound is clean and nice. The tempi are comfortably swift but not racing. The balance between the instruments is good. I am listening to K 542 as I write this and am quite pleased.



If you have the Philips DUO release with Beaux Arts Trio, than this is certainly not a "must have", especially not at full price, but the "used" option makes it a reasonable 14 dollars.



In general, if other collectors like me are frustrated by the lack of a future in classical recordings, and more, frustrated that the labels seem to be determined to recycle old recordings instead of using new and better recording technologies to record contemporary artists then buying a disc like this, which rewards a label for investing in a still-alive artist is perhaps worthwhile. Probably a losing effort however....and we have all benefited over the last year as Decca and DG have thrown open the vaults releasing real treasures at super cheap prices."