Trio Élégiaque No.1 In G Minor For Piano, Violin And Cello
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - 1. Pezzo Elegiaco (Moderato Assai - Allegro Giusto)
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - 2. (A) Tema Con Variazioni: Andante Con Moto
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - Var. I: L'istesso Tempo
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - Var. II: Più Mosso
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - Var. III: Allegro Moderato
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - Var. IV: L'istesso Tempolisten
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - Var. V: L'istesso Tempo
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - Var. VI: Tempo Di Valse
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - Var. VII: Allegro Moderato
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - Var. VIII: Fuga (Allegro Moderato)
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - Var. IX: Andante Flebile, Ma Non Tanto
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - Var. X: Tempo Di Mazurka
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - Var. XI: Moderato
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.50 - 2. (B) Variazione Finale E Coda (Allegretto Risoluto E Con Fuoco)
Lang Lang revisits giants of Russia's Romantic musical soul, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, to reveal another side of his prodigious talent--his finesse as a collegial interpreter of chamber music. This release, Lang Lang`s... more » first ever chamber music recording, also features two giants of their instruments: Vadim Repin on violin and Mischa Maisky on cello. Lang Lang could not be in better company to reveal the inexhaustible inventiveness of Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio in A minor, op. 50 or the tender consolations of Rachmaninov's Trio élégiaque no. 1 in G-minor, a short early masterpiece composed before Rachmaninov was twenty. Lang Lang's rare forays into chamber music have been extolled by the press. The critic for the Sueddeutsche Zeitung described his concert experience as "almost like seeing a newborn Lang Lang." Famous for his dynamic, impetuous, hair-raising virtuoso solo turns, Lang Lang unveils a fascinating facet of his musical make-up: he is a team player on the highest possible level. Tchaikovsky composed the expansive Piano Trio in A minor, "In memory of a great artist," to commemorate the death of his friend and mentor, Nikolai Rubinstein. The only major piece Tchaikovsky composed in 1881, the A minor's unusual form reinvented the genre. Conceived in two long movements, its short variations in the second are colorful evocations of Rubinstein's personality. Before composing it, Tchaikovsky was convinced that piano and strings, given their dissimilar sounds, were incompatible in small ensembles. The completed Trio in A minor happily proved him wrong.« less
Lang Lang revisits giants of Russia's Romantic musical soul, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, to reveal another side of his prodigious talent--his finesse as a collegial interpreter of chamber music. This release, Lang Lang`s first ever chamber music recording, also features two giants of their instruments: Vadim Repin on violin and Mischa Maisky on cello. Lang Lang could not be in better company to reveal the inexhaustible inventiveness of Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio in A minor, op. 50 or the tender consolations of Rachmaninov's Trio élégiaque no. 1 in G-minor, a short early masterpiece composed before Rachmaninov was twenty. Lang Lang's rare forays into chamber music have been extolled by the press. The critic for the Sueddeutsche Zeitung described his concert experience as "almost like seeing a newborn Lang Lang." Famous for his dynamic, impetuous, hair-raising virtuoso solo turns, Lang Lang unveils a fascinating facet of his musical make-up: he is a team player on the highest possible level. Tchaikovsky composed the expansive Piano Trio in A minor, "In memory of a great artist," to commemorate the death of his friend and mentor, Nikolai Rubinstein. The only major piece Tchaikovsky composed in 1881, the A minor's unusual form reinvented the genre. Conceived in two long movements, its short variations in the second are colorful evocations of Rubinstein's personality. Before composing it, Tchaikovsky was convinced that piano and strings, given their dissimilar sounds, were incompatible in small ensembles. The completed Trio in A minor happily proved him wrong.
CD Reviews
Wonderful Tchaikovsky, pretty good Rachmaninov
A. F. S. Mui | HK | 10/22/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Okay, there was the fiasco of a 'trio' in the EMI version of Beethoven's Triple Concerto featuring S. Richter (Piano), Rostropovich (cello) and Oistrakh (violin), but it seems that the main stumbling block was the conductor.
Here, the trio collaborates quite well, though I tend to feel that Lang Lang was a bit 'outrageous' in the opening piece by Rachmaninoff, as if he hadn't yet fully acquaint himself with the collaboration. There were signs of the piano 'gasping' for verboise dialogue.
No such in the main piece by Tchaikovsky, though. The three soloists enegaged in fluent and cohesive dialogue, with high flown musicality and beauty of tone in all three instruments.
I admit that I am not too familiar with the piece, but this recording convinces me that the work is truly wonderful.
I heartily recommend this CD, even if you are a LL averter."
This one is a winner.
Abel | Hong Kong | 10/30/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are two pieces in this CD, the first one Trio élégiaque No.1 in g minor by Rachmaninoff is sort of a filler, and the Tchaikovsky Trio in a minor Op. 50 the main piece.
I would say that both the filler and the main piece are equally good.
The pieces were composed when the composers were relatively young. In the Trio élégiaque case, Rachmaninoff was only 19. That aspect gives a good chance for this recording to have an edge over other more 'mature' readings (such as by the Beaux Arts Trio). Lang Lang's youthful enthusiasm, even in melancholy moments, lends more drama and pathos to the piece that is essential for a youthful composition.
Likewise, the Tchaikovsky Piano Trio was composed relatively early in Tchaikovsky's life. Similar to the Rachmaninoff piece, the theme is on death and pathos.
If you wonder why Lang Lang chose these pieces, you may be interested to learn that he is a great fan of the 'Schindler' music - the original soundtrack of the film 'Schindler's List'. According to his father, Lang Lang would 'loss' himself in the music on the soundtrack once he starts listening.
The two pieces recorded here echo the pathos and emotion of the Schindler music, and even if one of the performer is young, he is fully aided by two seasoned string players here. The ensemble works in both pieces are splendid in this recording.
I have not heard Maisky in his earlier recording of the Tchaikovsky Trio with Martha Argerich, and could not make any comparisons. However, judging from the result here, this one would not be far off even if not better.
I have listened to this album three times in a row, and got more and more satisfied with each listening."
Three virtuosos in full cry -- and yes, Lang Lang holds his
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/20/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are risks in getting too many lions together in one room, and record companies like to be stingy. For both reasons, one almost never saw commercial recordings outside the Soviet sphere of Richter in chamber music. I can't remember a single instance with Horowitz or Cliburn. But Martha Argerich seems to have changed all that with her enormous output of chamber music, especially as sourced from the Lugano summer festival on EMI. DG has followed suit by showcasing Lang Lang in a platinum setting with Repin and Maisky. Since half the world thinks he's great already and the other half thinks he's a fad, how does Lang Lang fare in these big-boned romantic trios by Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky?
To begin with, all three collaborators really are lions, so the pianist is in proper company. The recorded sound is spectacular and very close up on all the instruments. If you want a natural aural perspective, look elsewhere; here, the cello and violin loom large, filling the room. I also think the musical side is well cared for. Both pieces are approached heroically, which is quite valid with such lush, heart-on-sleeve music. Also, both works emphasize pianistic virtuosity, and Lang Lang never fails to impress in that department. What may surprise listeners who denigrate him as a musician is how superbly he absorbs the idiom of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. He's not as electric and unpredictable as the volatile Argerich in the former, but still, you can't take your ears off him. The piano part in the Tchaikovsky calls for the same bravura technique as the famous concerto, which Lang Lang tosses off effortlessly.
In the end, does this CD sound like a well-knit trio or three virtuosos having at it? The latter, certainly, but it's quite a thrill while the ride is underway. A mighty roar on all counts."
Tchaikovsky A-minor Trio
RHMS | 01/31/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This was a finely executed performance of one of the truly great works of its genre. The players were masterful and I appreciated that they chose to perform the final movement in its entirety rather than observe the lengthy cut the composer unwisely agreed to, and which subsequently became the near-standard performing version until relatively recently. You won't go wrong with Lang, Repin and Maisky although I personally prefer the ca-1950 recording by Rubinstein, Heifetz and Piatogorsky which, especially in the first movement's elegaic passages, has a somewhat less percussive melodic flow.
Rachmaninov's "Trio Elegiaque," dates from his nineteenth year while still a prize-winning conservatory student. Although some learned in the art of composition may point to a few rough edges in his handling of the sonata form, it is still an impressive work of great beauty and power that also provides suggestions of masterpieces to come later from his pen. And its heartfelt tribute to his then recently deceased hero, Tchaikovsky, whose A-minor trio was his deliberately selected template, cannot fail to impress. The recording artists once again do a memorable job."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1