Mendelssohn - The Piano Trios - Hyperion: CDA67485 - CD or download

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What immediately impresses about these performances by the Florestan Trio is the lightness and clarity of the playing, with Susan Tomes characteristically sparing in her use of pedal. …this... — BBC Music Magazine, October 2005 More…

Release Date: 3rd Oct 2005
Catalogue No: CDA67485
Label: Hyperion
Length: 53 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

February 2006

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Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49

Work length26:48

$4.40

$6.00

The Florestan Trio

I. Molto allegro agitato

Track length9:08

$1.10

$1.50

II. Andante con moto tranquillo

Track length5:47

$1.10

$1.50

III. Scherzo: Leggiero e vivace

Track length3:31

$1.10

$1.50

IV. Finale: Allegro assai appassionato

Track length8:22

$1.10

$1.50

Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66

Work length26:53

$4.40

$6.00

The Florestan Trio

I. Allegro energico e fuoco

Track length9:57

$1.10

$1.50

II. Andante espressivo

Track length6:05

$1.10

$1.50

III. Scherzo: Molto allegro quasi presto

Track length3:34

$1.10

$1.50

IV. Finale: Allegro appassionato

Track length7:17

$1.10

$1.50

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Favourites, Felix Mendelssohn

David picks out some recordings of the German Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn.

The Florestan Trio is firmly established as one of Britainsindeed the worldsmost distinguished and remarkably talented ensembles, their Hyperion recordings of Schubert, Schumann and Brahms receiving universal praise. Here they turn their attention to Mendelssohns two late piano trios and the performances are fresh and exhilarating! Mendelssohn was without doubt the most precociously gifted composer the world has ever known: not even Mozart produced mature masterpieces while still in his teens. He was also double prodigy on the violin and piano (Clara Schumann described him as the dearest pianist of all), an exceptional athlete, a talented poet (Goethe was a childhood friend and confidant), multi-linguist, watercolorist and philosopher. He excelled at virtually anything which could hold his attention for long enough, although it was music above all which activated his creative imagination. The well-known Op 49 in D minor and Op 66 in C minor represent the peak of Mendelssohns achievement in his relatively small output of chamber music; both trios are similar in structure and mood, beginning with a sombre and intense first movement, followed by a lyrical and melodic slow movement; the third movement is a fleeting and magical scherzo and ending with an energetic finale.

Reviews

October 2005

What immediately impresses about these performances by the Florestan Trio is the lightness and clarity of the playing, with Susan Tomes characteristically sparing in her use of pedal. …this well-recorded new disc offers exceptionally fine accounts of these two great works.

2010

With its unforgettable opening cello theme, the D minor First has always been the more favoured of the two. But in a performance as subtle and impassioned as the Florestan's, the C minor Second seems at least as fine. The powerful, almost Brahmsian first movement alone should give the lie to the cliché that Mendelssohn's genius declined irredeemably after the brilliance of youth. While always keeping the potentially dense textures lucid (Susan Tomes's refined, singing tone and articulation a constant pleasure), the Florestan play this with a mingled fire and lyrical tenderness that it's hard to imagine bettered.
The flowing barcarolle slow movement has a crucial quality of innocence, and the flickering nocturnal Scherzo is as delicate and pointed as you could wish, at a tempo close to Mendelssohn's optimistically fast marking, while the Chamber Mendelssohn 736 finale drives impulsively towards its triumphant chorale apotheosis, grandly inevitable rather than bombastic.
From the yearning opening, the great cello melody surging across the barlines, the Florestan are equally vivid in the D minor Trio. Scrupulously observant, as ever, of Mendelssohn's detailed dynamic markings, they make you more than usually aware of how much of the music is held down to piano and pianissimo; and the moment at the start of the recapitulation, where Richard Lester's warm cello is counterpoised with violinist Anthony Marwood's fragile, floated descant, is as magical as you will hear.
Again the Florestan favour an easily flowing tempo for the song-without-words slow movement, phrasing in long spans (uncommonly pure, luminous duetting from Marwood and Lester) and finding a touch of playfulness when the main theme returns. Just as fine are the irresistible airborne Scherzo and the finale, where the Florestan, taking note of the qualifying unpoco tranquillo, make the opening march unusually pensive before sweeping forward with an authentically Mendelssohnian mix of restless agitation, grace and lyrical fervour. Pleasure in these superb performances is enhanced by a beautifully natural recording and Robert Philip's detailed, illuminating notes.

February 2006

With its unforgettable opening cello theme, the D minor First has always been the more favoured of the two. But in a performance as subtle and impassioned as the Florestan's, the C minor Second seems at least as fine. The powerful, almost Brahmsian first movement alone should give the lie to the cliché that Mendelssohn's genius declined irredeemably after the brilliance of youth. ...the Florestan play this with a mingled fire and lyrical tenderness that I have never heard bettered. From the yearning opening, the great cello melody surging across the barlines, the Florestan are equally vivid in the D minor Trio. Pleasure in these superb performances is enhanced by a beautifully natural recording and Robert Philip's detailed, illuminating notes.

2011 edition

Dazzling playing from this splendid ensemble puts the Florestan Trio at the very top of the list for these attractive and much-recorded works. The freshness of response and the virtuosity of the pianist, the inimitable Susan Tomes, make this coupling pretty irresistable.

December 2014

This pairing of Mendelssohn's two Piano Trios from the Florestan Trio combines a deeply-felt lyricism with a lightness of touch (respecting among other things the sheer quietness of the dynamics) -enabling the graceful side of these works to come through. Pianist Susan Tomes is particularly excellent.

Mendelssohn - The Piano Trios

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Favourites, Felix Mendelssohn

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