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Site review by Polly Nomial May 1, 2006
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Performance: Sonics: |
After Beethoven: Cello Sonata, Piano Trio - Stark, Shteinbouk, Belkin and Beethoven, Franck: Violin Sonatas - Stark, Shteinbouk, I was looking forward to hearing this disc of Tchaikovsky's piano trio with a real sense of trepidation. Fortunately, the venue for this disc (recorded in 2003 unlike the others that were recorded in 2005) is the much more enjoyable. It is a great shame that Mirrored Nature Records chose to leave the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, Canada for this is a far more sympathetic and friendly venue in which to listen to music.
As to the performance itself, this is performed with real panache and vigour and a sense of the musicians enjoyment is conveyed vividly. The opening movement is performed reflectively and with great ardour alternately as the music demands. The second (and final variation form) movement is characterised very nicely, and apart from the odd lapse of intonation in variation 10 (track 9). This is really quite nice playing, and overall I would be pleased if I had seen this performance in concert. It is a shame though that the intonation errors weren't corrected (as this is a studio recording). Whilst this piece has no competition on SACD at present, any newcomer would have to be pretty good to better this disc.
The sound is much more acceptable than that produced in MNR's other recordings and whilst it seems strange that no MCH mix was recorded and issued, the balance is well-done and the every note can be heard with clarity. The piano sound is still a little thin but does not have one reaching for other SACD's and there is still not quite enough resonance and acoustic signature for the stereo recording to match up to the best stereo layers on the market nor any half-way decent MCH issue.
I can recommend this release, despite the relatively short playing time (45'18) and hope the MNR revert to this (or a similar) studio for future recordings with artists that are (at least) as well prepared as they are here. Even better would be a MCH issue...
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Copyright © 2006 John Broggio and SA-CD.net
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