Bach; Brahms; Prokofiev; Schumann: Piano Works

Advantages: Two outstanding peices of chamber music for an unusual combination of instruments
Disadvantages: On the surface quite contrasting works, listener must be openminded

...procedures, deriving new and original ideas influenced by the chamber music of old masters such as Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Schumann. Ligeti was influenced by the music of fellow Hungarian composer Béla Bartók, who once stated that "Every art has the right to strike its roots in the art of a previous age; it not only has the right to but it must stem from it". This makes the pairing of one of Ligeti's finest works with the Brahms Op.40 Trio a very appropriate one. Both outstanding chamber works in their own rights and certainly the two best pieces composed for this unusual combination invented by Brahms, a good recording is essential, but hard to find. There are not that many recordings in existence of these works due to the technical complexity for performers and even acclaimed recordings such as the CD by Perlman, Ashkenazy... Read review

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Advantages: Brilliant, stirring, excitingly unpredictable, fresh performance; "genius" is not hyperbole in Argerich's case.
Disadvantages: Reflecting its LP origins, the CD lasts only 50' 16"!

...and the cello—both such musically charismatic and unpredictable performers who have inspired devoted, even fanatical followings whose praise and cult-like adoration resemble those showered upon the likes of Vladimir Horowitz. The word “can’t” seems to be missing from their performing vocabularies. Like du Pré, Argerich seems to play instinctively, with an intensity and passion that electrifies listeners. Argerich is that rare performer who does very well with a varied repertoire, including works by Romantics Chopin and Schumann, Ravel, modern composers like Bartok and Prokofiev, and, as in this recording, J. S. Bach. My only lament is that she has recorded too few of Bach’s works. Not much else to say except to strongly recommend the disc to one and all. It deserves a place in every Bach lover’s library, and that of any music lover curious about... Read review

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Advantages: Mutter's eloquence and sensitivity in older recording are enhanced here.
Disadvantages: None at all!

..., she grows hushed, at which point the orchestra lets out the final, booming chords, a lovely close to an exhilarating musical journey. ~~~~~~~~~~ The rest of the disc is taken up by Robert Schumann's rarely played and heard Fantasy. Schumann wrote this work for (once again) Joseph Joachim. (Schumann was a mentor to Brahms, who cherished his friendship with the older composer, and is believed to have fallen deeply in love with Schumann’s wife, Clara. But that’s neither here nor there.) Pastoral-like, sweeping notes are played by the strings and winds, the soloist enters, at first with serious intent, yielding to joyous sections that please with their many surprises. Mutter’s strong, quick and scraping notes alternate with fluid and sweetly mellow phrases. Her solo violin hogs much of the spotlight on this one. The orchestra shadows her... Read review

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