Search - Lalo, Rolland, Barbican :: Piano Trio 1

A Great Disc for Lalo Diehards

10/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those who cotton to the oddly Franco-Germanic music of Edouard Lalo, these trios, especially the last, find him at his most Germanic, his least Frenchified. As a lifelong admirer of the music of Schumann, Lalo employed gestures in his orchestral music that are reminiscent of the German composer, such as the hymn-like middle section of the Scherzo for Orchestra. Maybe you could even blame the four-square quality of Lalo's unsuccessful symphony on Schumann's influence. Schumann's spirit, however, is even more evident in the trios, especially the last, a grand and noble composition that represents Lalo at his best. It reminds me of Schumann's equally noble First Trio, not a bad model at all.The two earlier trios have a youthful buoyancy and some good melodies, but it is the last trio that will stay with you.The Barbican trio catches the spirit of this music well, whether it be the slightly eccentric prettiness of the early works or the more expansive gestures of the late one. The recording is big and full. Lalo lovers (all three of you!), here is your CD!"