From an era when music was worshipped
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 11/28/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To judge by its total neglect at Amazon, this famous recording now represents not just a bygone era but a forgotten one. After the Cortot-Thibaud-Casals Trio disbanded, the great cellist appeared in fewer chamber performances. Here are three, in poor sound, from the Prades Festival. All sound boxy and cramped, and yet the superlative quality of the musicmaking is heartbreakingly sincere -- for the agonizing era when the world was a war, music became more than ever a kind of religious salvation. I was particularly moved by the first movement of the Mendelssohn trio, played very simply without undue emphasis, yet saved from blandness by the exquisite rapport of three musicians who might well have loved the music and each other for the time it lasted. If you feel sympathy for such rapport and can overlook the lack of modern technical perfection, this is a cherishable CD."
Wonderful Performances
Robert T. Martin | 12/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are two trios recorded on this CD, the Brahms C Major, Op. 87 (recorded in June of 1952 at the Prades Festival) and the Mendelssohn D Minor, Op. 49 (recorded in November of 1961 at the White House). We generally hear Brahms chamber music performed in a brash, emphatic style but here it is played in a restrained and loving way. I listened to another Casals performance of this work recorded at the 1955 Prades festival (with Menuhin and Istomin) and found the approach similar.
The Mendelssohn is simply beautiful, a performance befitting this very special occasion. Did Casals ever play anything at anytime that was ever less than inspired and inspiring?
The sound on this recording shows it's age but takes nothing away from one's pleasure."
Passionate Performances
Sir B | NYC | 08/18/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Very moving performances of extraordinary pieces. This cd is high on the list of my all-time favorite recordings."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1