Taking stock: Beethoven – Archduke Piano Trio

Post by **fergus** » Sun Nov 02, 2014 8:29 pm

I cannot remember when I first heard Beethoven’s Archduke Piano Trio but it obviously touched something inside of me which has stayed with me ever since that first hearing. It is one of my favourite pieces of music and not just in the Chamber Music genre.

Given what I have written above I have just realized that I only have the following versions in my collection....

Kalichstein/Laredo/Robinson [IMP]
Oistrakh Trio [CFP]
Stern/Rose/Istomin [Sony]
Suk Trio [Supraphon]
Thibaud/Casals/Cortot [World Records]

There are some very big names from the past there but a noticeable absence of “modern” interpretations – not that that really matters to me as it is the quality of the playing that I am interested in.

What is your favourite version if you have one?
What valuable interpretations am I missing out on?

Looking forward to some recommendations on this one.

Post by **Seán** » Sun Nov 02, 2014 9:36 pm

A timely post as I have returned to chamber music over the past few days.

I have the following performances in my collection:
Beaux Arts Trio. On Decca
Immersel/Beths/Bylsma. On Vivarte
Borodin Trio. On Brilliant Classics
Oistrakh Trio. On EMI. (The complete recordings, 17 cd box set).

I would need to listen to all four and do comparisons to find my favourite, it's probably between the Beaux Arts Trio, Immerseel and Oistrakh, I ADORE David Oistrakh's music-making, more of whom anon. You won't go wrong with the Beaux Arts Trio set if you don't want to get the large Oistrakh box set.

I suppose I should get the Suk set? Who are your favourite performers?

Post by **fergus** » Sun Nov 02, 2014 10:37 pm

Seán wrote:A timely post as I have returned to chamber music over the past few days.

I have the following performances in my collection:
Beaux Arts Trio. On Decca
Immersel/Beths/Bylsma. On Vivarte
Borodin Trio. On Brilliant Classics
Oistrakh Trio. On EMI. (The complete recordings, 17 cd box set).

I would need to listen to all four and do comparisons to find my favourite, it's probably between the Beaux Arts Trio, Immerseel and Oistrakh, I ADORE David Oistrakh's music-making, more of whom anon. You won't go wrong with the Beaux Arts Trio set if you don't want to get the large Oistrakh box set.

I suppose I should get the Suk set? Who are your favourite performers?

Thank you for that Seán.
I have many of the Beaux Arts recordings but strangely enough not for this particular work. They are a fine ensemble.
Of the ones listed above the Immersel/Beths/Bylsma. On Vivarte immediately takes my fancy.

I have many recordings featuring Suk and I like his playing. That particular recording that I featured on the Listening thread is however very different in "feel" to the other recordings that I have but none the less valid for that.
I suppose that my favourite version in my collection would be the Stern/Rose/Istomin one as that seems to be the one that I gravitate to most.

Post by **jaybee** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:40 pm

I've only got the one version

Barenboim/Zukerman/DuPre

So I can't compare... it's taken a good deal of listening to get past the BBC period drama soundtrack feeling but I discovered that volume is key! played at antisocial levels i love it, played quietly, can't stand it!!

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Post by **fergus** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:26 pm

jaybee wrote:.... I discovered that volume is key! played at antisocial levels i love it, played quietly, can't stand it!!

Very interesting! I can possibly understand that with orchestral music. Any other chamber music that you feel this way about Johnny?

Post by **Jose Echenique** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 1:25 am

Immerseel, Bylsma and Beths, yes, gut strings and a fortepiano.

Post by **jaybee** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:42 am

fergus wrote:
jaybee wrote:.... I discovered that volume is key! played at antisocial levels i love it, played quietly, can't stand it!!

Very interesting! I can possibly understand that with orchestral music. Any other chamber music that you feel this way about Johnny?

not really I generally enjoy chamber music more than orchestral there's just something a little anodyne in that particular piece I find when played quietly

Post by **james** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 12:28 pm

I have had this version for ages and I quite like it. It's the only version I have so I can't compare it to anything else.

James

Post by **fergus** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 11:47 pm

james wrote:

I have had this version for ages and I quite like it. It's the only version I have so I can't compare it to anything else.

James

Thank you for that James. Three very eminent musicians there!

Post by **mcq** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:40 pm

The version by L'Archibudelli is self-recommending, Fergus, but I'm also very taken by a recent version on Harmonia Mundi with Faust, Melnikov and Queyras which is coupled with No. 6. One of the very best versions I've heard of this masterpiece. I'm also very fond of the complete set of the trios by Trio Wanderer (also on HM) which features a very fine version of the Archduke.

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