Search - Gretchaninov, Moscow Rachmaninoff Trio :: Piano Trios / Cello Sonata

If you do know the name of Gretchaninov, you probably think of him as a 19th century Russian composer of choral music. But Gretchaninov left Russia after the Revolution, settled in Paris, and eventually moved to New York, where he died in 1956 at the age of 91. Throughout his long career, he wrote prolifically in a wide variety of media, and it's just luck that his choral music became best known. The First Trio is thoroughly Russian, but the Cello Sonata and Second Trio have incorporated strong French influences. It's appropriate that these works are played by the Moscow Rachmaninov Trio, since Gretchaninov treats these scorings similarly to Rachmaninov, with a strong emphasis on a virtuosic piano. While these may not be masterpieces, they are attractive and refreshingly inventive works that will please any listeners who enjoy late-Romantic music. The performers are excellent, playing with virtuosity and conviction, and the Russian-made recording sounds splendid. For the right listener, this disc is a real find. --Leslie Gerber