Like many of the great
Beethoven cycles (symphonies, string quartets, piano sonatas…), the piano trios offer listeners a cross-section of
Beethoven's three primarily recognized style periods. Although there are fewer piano trios than examples found in other genres, they still clearly show the composer's growth and development and his mastery over chamber music forms. The present Koch album is a 2007 reissue of a 2003 Arabesque release -- Vol. 1 of the Complete Trios performed by the legendary
Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio -- and features two of the most famous trios (the "Ghost" Trio, Op. 70/1, and the "Archduke" Trio, Op. 97) as well as the less often heard Op. 70/2 Trio, the Op. 44 Variations, and the "Kakadu" Variations, Op. 121a. Having been recorded so many times, listeners would be justified to ask whether anything new can be said in these cornerstone works. The answer given by the
Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio is a resounding yes. Those familiar with the legendary recordings made by the
Beaux Arts Trio likely appreciate the aloof austerity, poise, and control presented. That rule book is thrown out the window here. This is not to say that the
Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson plays recklessly or without precision. Rather, it incorporates all of the technical exactitude of
Beaux Arts, but with a large, refreshing dose of vitality, spontaneity, and pure joy in music-making. The rousing Presto finale of Op. 70/1 will find listeners barely able to stay in their seats while the central "Ghost" movement is brilliantly poignant without being stagnant. The under-appreciated Op. 70/2 is presented with a sense of intense lyricism and importance. Listeners seeking a breath of fresh air from these great works would do well to try this album and look forward to the reissue of Vol. 2, as well.