Schumann: Piano Trios Vol.2 | Robert Schumann, Brahms-Trio | More Great Chamber Music by Schumann

Schumann: Piano Trios Vol.2 | Robert Schumann, Brahms-Trio | Engaging performances, but the pieces are weak

classical music:

Schumann: Piano Tr...

	Schumann: Piano Trios Vol.2 Robert Schumann, Brahms-Trio Naxos, 2000 average customer review:based on 2 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

More Great Chamber Music by Schumann

The Vienna Brahms Trio pick up where they left off, after recording Schumann's Piano Trios Op.63 and 80 (Vol.1). Volume 2 is also well-performed and recorded. Schumann surely wrote some lovely chamber music, as evidenced by the three works here. The Trio in G minor, Op.110, is a work of lyrical beauty. The other two works are equally delightful. No lover of the gifted Schumann would want to do without these modern digital recordings at a bargain price.

Engaging performances, but the pieces are weak

For a great composer, Schumann has only a few works that rank as masterpieces among his chamber music output, principally the Piano Quartet and Quintet. Here, in their second CD of Schumann's Piano Trios, we get assured, relaxed readings from the Vienna Brahms Trio. But the main work here, Trio No. 3 Op. 110, dates from Schumann's drastic mental and physical decline. The first movement has moderate energy and a lovely theme, yet it doesn't develop with the power of imagination that early-to-middle period Schumann has. After that, things go downhill quickly. The slow movement is simple, centered around an almost-memorable melody, but the Scherzo is feeble and the finale downright weird--I defy anyone to figure out what Schumann intended.

Likewise, the Fantasiestucke are average works at best, nowhere near Schumann's inspired line of fantasy in his piano music, and the six Pieces in canonic form Op. 56, though not part of the composer's decline, are a bit academic, pleasant at best. I love Schumann, but these works didn't strike me as worth more than one listen.

for more information click here

Tracks
Trio in g, Op.110: Bewegt, Doch Nicht Zu Rasch | Trio in g, Op.110: Ziemlich Langsam | Trio in g, Op.110: Rasch | Trio in g, Op.110: Kraftig, Mit Humor | Trio in a 'Fantasiestucke', Op.88: Romanze | Trio in a 'Fantasiestucke', Op.88: Humoreske: Lebhaft | Trio in a 'Fantasiestucke', Op.88: Duett: Langsam Und Mit Ausdruck | Trio in a 'Fantasiestucke', Op.88: Finale: Im Marsch-Tempo | Six Pieces in Canonic Form, Op.56: Nicht Zu Schnell | Six Pieces in Canonic Form, Op.56: Mit Innigem Ausdruck | Six Pieces in Canonic Form, Op.56: Andantino | Six Pieces in Canonic Form, Op.56: Innig | Six Pieces in Canonic Form, Op.56: Nicht Zu Schnell | Six Pieces in Canonic Form, Op.56: Adagio

schumann