Haydn: Complete Piano Trios

Delightful

"Delightful" is a single word to describe this recording of Haydn's Piano Trios. I was fortunate to find one of the apparently few remaining copies of the Beaux Arts Trio's performance of the complete Landon edition trios on Philips (Polygram 454 098-2). (This was before the apparent re-release.) This ten and a half hour treasure was originally very well-recorded in the 1970s on analog tape in Switzerland and the Netherlands, then first released on CD in 1991, then again in 1996.

The Beaux Arts plays wonderfully; not much more could be asked from these performances, other perhaps for a slightly more distant microphone perspective. It's amazing that F.J. Haydn had been considered largely irrelevant by his succeeding romantic generations. His compositions are, for lack of a better description, classically classical and far less "cute" than the precocious and better-known works of upstart Mozart. The Beaux Arts is able to infuse the joyful compositional beauty of Papa Haydn's trios with skillful elegance and charm.

There are some definite surprises, particularly in the later works. As others have noted, Haydn presaged the Romantic period in some of his later trios. The variety of compositions presented here are at times beautifully proportioned and balanced, elegant and refined, humorous and witty, joyous and rollicking. In short they aptly display much of the skill, talent and personality of one of my favorite composers. December 13, 2007

Delightful gems.

I have arrived at the view that Haydn is for the musically more mature; this is after some fifty five years of avoiding him - I have come to regret the wasting of so much time!

Like many people, I have considered Haydn principally in terms of his "thousands" of symphonies and felt the title "Papa" probably apposite. However, having spent an increasing amount of time during the last five years in getting to know his chamber works, I have altered my opinions dramatically and have long since thought Schumann's judgment facile and ungrateful.

Haydn shared a few years of the middle of the 18th. century with Bach and given his following so closely upon the heels of the Barok, his music is astonishingly innovative and I think he receives far too little credit for the pioneering work he did. His string quartets truly are of the first order and given that he "invented" the genre, extraordinarily forward and musically developed. Mozart did nothing to advance the form which Haydn left as a wonderful foundation upon which Beethoven and Schubert could build.

Whilst many of the quartets have a certain cerebral aspect to them, the piano trios do not. Not because of any lack of inventiveness on the part of the composer but due to their being intended for a larger and different audience to whom Haydn's publishers might sell a lot of sheet music; it should be remembered that Haydn was widely known and popular from Italy to Sweden. There is no hint of "commercialism" in these works however.

This complete set of piano trios has a strong homogeneity; they all fit together well and balance nicely. A quirky exception here is the very individual E major Allegretto (Hob.XV:28) heralding a chorale prelude and later suggesting that we are in for a three part fugue. No chorale, no fugue. Another of Haydn's witticisms perhaps?

The Beaux Arts' readings are "safe" and I have no quibble with this. Another reviewer has found them "bland" but with this I do not agree. Frankly, I think it difficult to make a proper judgment because, as has been pointed out elsewhere, the strings are not at all well recorded and for much of the time the pieces sound like a piano sonata with occasional string accompaniment.

This situation is less annoying than it otherwise might be as the piano really has a stand-alone part and the overall nature of the works is surprisingly undiminished in the apparent absence of the strings. In any event, the violin and more particularly the 'cello whose principal function was to bolster the rather fragile bass of the early Viennese fortepiano, don't have much to say that is of great musical consequence. To a degree, this "imbalance" is characteristic of the trio form as it was employed by Mozart, Beethoven and others; it was well into the nineteenth century before Mendelssohn distributed the musical parts more evenly but a contrived imbalance of musical composition is one thing - that of shortcomings of recording quality is quite another. The "solo" nature of the piano in this instance merely serves to demonstrate what an unusually fine pianist Menahem Pressler is. In other respects the recording is very good.

These trios are immensely satisfying, partly due to their delightful nature and partly because they don't demand much in the way of intellectual involvement from the listener. I should like to have awarded five stars; generally, the set deserves them but I feel some penalty has to be imposed in respect of the poor microphone balance. Musically, this collection is a superbly performed joy and others surely will share my delight in it.
July 18, 2007

Delightful Music

The Beaux Arts Trio, as always, performs well enough to win an award with these trios. The works are so tuneful that I frequently found myself walking around the house humming the tunes after hearing a quartet for the first time.

This music is also wonderful to listen to while doing desk work or reading. You'll not be disappointed.
March 4, 2006

Too Bland for Haydn!!!

No doubt that Haydn is one of the greatest composers of all times both in terms of quality and quantity of his diverse compositions.I have always found his piano sonatas very witty and enjoyable having listened to Jando and Richter.I was completely floored by one of the Haydn's Piano trios featured in the Stern,Rose and Istomin recording of the Schubert Piano Trios-Perky,springy,Bouncy playing keeping the listener constantly guessing.It is with great expectation that I bought this complete set of Haydn Piano Trios by the REPUTED Beaux Arts Trio.Listening to the First 2 CDs of this set was a bit of a let down.I find their playing totally bland and Lifeless-Yes,they are pretty but lacking in perky,quirky humour that Haydn is justly known for.They sound like Rameau's compositions!I find that the individuality and personality of Haydn is totally absent.
I know that the Beaux Arts Trio has a Big Reputation but I need to say this.I found their Beethoven Trios a Trifle Bland as well.The Stern Rose Istomin Excel in that recording as well!Ditto for their Schubert Piano Trios.Just what is the Difference?I find the Stern Rose Istomin Trio play with Fresh Abandon whereas the Beaux Arts Trio seem to be too Studious,a little too serious!This robs a little bit of spontaneity and LIVING IN THE MOMENT vitality.(More so for Franz Joseph Haydn!)
Yes,This may be the only complete recording of the wonderful Haydn Piano Trios,but I would strongly advise that you collect the individual performances by different groups after due listening. January 17, 2006

Haydn: Complete Piano Trios

Bad recording - all one can hear is the piano part...too loud and is sounded liked the piano was set right next to the microphone... Wish I could return this set of CD's. Very disappointed. September 6, 2005

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