So overpoweringly passionate and overwhelmingly powerful is the
Jupiter Trio in this recording that one would hesitate to take a front-row seat at one of its concerts. From the opening flourish of
Beethoven's "Ghost" Piano Trio to the last whimper of
Shostakovich's "Dance of Death" Piano Trio, the
Jupiter attacks with massive strength, performs with enormous intensity, and interprets with immense emotionality. Whether one would survive sitting in the front row is questionable, whether one could survive even listening to the recording is debatable.
But isn't this just the way performances of music -- any music -- should be? Shouldn't listening to
Beethoven's "Ghost" be an overpowering experience from its rocketing opening Allegro vivace e con brio through its central agonizing Largo assai ed espressivo to its soaring closing Presto? Shouldn't listening to
Shostakovich's "Dance of Death" be an overwhelming experience starting with fear, moving through terror, and ending with death? Shouldn't listening to great music be a devastating experience?
It is in the
Jupiter Trio's recording. Taken on their own, each member is a strong-willed and deeply compassionate performer and taken together, they blow almost every other piano trio of the water. Although their scorched earth and take no prisoners approach may be too much for listeners looking for a gentile and civilized evening of chamber music, for listeners who long to be overpowered and overwhelmed, the
Jupiter Trio is just the thing. Bridge's sound is so close that the listener might as well be sitting on the piano bench turning pages.