Search - Johannes Brahms, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart :: Ax, Stoltzman, Ma : Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart : Trios for Piano, Clarinet, Cello

A must!

Joan Vogel | Memphis, Tennessee | 06/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you don't have this recording you are really missing something. The combonation of these three instruments the clarinet, cello, and piano is really something. It is unthinkable that these wonderful pieces of music should be played any way else. Brahms wrote an alternate viola part to replace the clarinet and Beethoven wrote and alternate violin part to replace the clarinet. It is facinating to see the evolution of this kind of trio. Beethoven's trio is one of his early works written as an experiment with these instruments. The Brahms on the other hand is a mature masterpiece that every one should be familiar with. Pick this one up you won't regret it."

Overall Good

04/25/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this on a whim. I respect Richard Stoltzman as a fellow clarinetist. I do not agree all the time with his interpretations of music. This is a good recording. Stoltzman tends to overdo the vibrato a little too much. That is a comprimise I will take. The pieces are fantastically done. I agree with the Amazon.com writer, the Brahms seems to be the best understood. The others are played well also though. The players play seemingly well together. They are all technically wonderful, kudos to Mr. Ax he by far had the most difficult music, the composers being pianists and all. The only piece I had a hard time with is the Mozart. It is originally for clarinet, viola, and piano. Mr. Ma plays wonderfully through-out but I do not think it does justice to the cello(the piece). I mostly refer to the first and third movements. He plays it fine, but you can hear the cello struggle in that viola range to project like a viola. Overall this is a very good c.d. I would not recommend it be the only recording of these pieces one owns, but it does add too any collection."

Camaraderie: Ax/Stoltzman/Ma Finesse the Masters

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to this buoyant and refreshing recording of the three major trios for clarinet, piano and cello confirms the fact that ensemble playing is best served when the performers of like mind. It is nothing short of a joy to hear Emanuel Ax, Richard Stoltzman, and Yo-Yo Ma sit down to join spirits in chamber music. The results are infectious, in keeping with each composer's work, and played with meticulous detail and warmth.



While most people will find the Brahms trio (opus 114) the most fully realized of the three, on this recording the Beethoven trio #4 (opus 11) is the most illuminating performance of the three. The phrasing is crisp, with one instrument taking up the leading melody and passing it graciously to the other instruments. It is a cohesive work, splendidly played. Our triad of great musicians obviously enjoys every moment of bringing this wonderful work to life. That is not to say that the Mozart trio (K 498) is not superb - it is just that this work is played so often that familiarity results in less attention to the performance.



This recording is highly recommended not only for those multitudes of fans of these three extraordinary musicians (and friends!), but also for lovers of chamber music of all forms. Grady Harp, August 05"