Rachmaninoff - The Elegiaque Piano Trios

Track Listings

1. Piano Trio in D minor Op. 9: Moderato-allegro moderato

2. Piano Trio in D minor Op. 9: Quasi variazone

3. Piano Trio in D minor Op. 9: Allegro risoluto

4. Piano Trio in G minor Op. Posth.: Lento lugubre

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Tavros Records announces the release of an exciting CD recording - Rachmaninoff's Elegiaque Piano Trios, performed by Korean pianist Yung Wook Yoo, Russian violinist Julia Sakharova, and from Iceland, cellist Margret Arnadottir.

The CD is unusual for its intense subject material. Rachmaninoff was 20 years old when Tchaikovsky died of cholera, and the news plunged him into an anguish that he could only express in a way he knew how - by writing music. The D-minor Trio Élégaique, an elegy to Tchaikovsky, is an expression of that grief.

Pianist Yung Wook Yoo, who in 1998 won the Grand Prize and Gold Medal of the XIII Paloma O'Shea Santander International Piano Competition, has embarked on a concert career that now takes him around the world. For a recent solo recital in Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater, Washington Post reviewer Ronald Broun wrote; "Yoo has a big technique that lets his imagination roam free…" Of his New York debut, New York Times reviewer Allan Kozinn wrote, "… (Yoo) is a mature player with interesting ideas and the means to convey them…not content to dazzle his listeners with speed and volume, but sought ways to bring out the music hidden within the gymnastics."

Violinist Julia Sakharova, a scholarship student at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, has won awards in this country and in her native Russia for her passionate playing. A review in the French publication, "L'Alsace," describes "an incredible temperament, very fine sensitivity, remarkable colors."

Cellist Margret Arnadottir, of Reykjavik, Iceland, is a student at The Juilliard School, and has appeared as soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. The Tavros recording emphasizes her ability for passionate, insightful interpretation.

The Rachmaninoff Elegiaque Piano Trios is a 64-minute CD containing Piano Trio Elegiaque in D minor, Op. 9, and Piano Trio Elegiaque No. 1 in G minor.

Tracks:

Trio Elegiaque No.1 in g: Lento Lugubre - Piu Vivo - Con Anima - Appassionato - Tempo Rubato...
Trio Elegiaque No.2 in d, Op.9: Moderato - Allegro Vivace - Meno Mosso - Allegro Moderato...
Trio Elegiaque No.2 in d, Op.9: Quasi Vars (Andante - Allegro - Lento - Allegro Scherzando...)
Trio Elegiaque No.2 in d, Op.9: Allegro Risoluto - Allegro Molto - Tempo Rubato - Moderato...

Customer Reviews:

Heartfelt rendition! .......2006-11-16

Among the annals of the Russian way of thinking and feeling there is a special menaing of the word grief. As a matter of fact, Tarkovsky stated once, the febrile Russian grief is impossible to be understood in case you are not from that country. I guess I feel due my great-grandfather was Russian, and perhaps this circumstance has brought me so near respect to this work.

That's why these Elegiac Trios have such intense emotive sentiment I have not known about any other similar homage loaded of such profundity and profound emotional profile.

The Op 9 is by itself a work of a very young composer but the level of expression makes us to forget all the technical problems you migh argue in favor or vice versa.

The Beaux Arts Trio made a splensid reading about this emtoive homage in Tchaikovsky's memory.

Go for these invaluable performances.

Intimate, personal Rachmaninov.......2006-02-02

Not a huge writer of chamber works (perhaps in part a sad side effect of having to hit the road as a concert performer after escaping post-Revolution USSR penniless), these two trios provide a more intimate look at Rachmaninov than his large scale orchestral works always do.

Like the other reviewer, this particular CD was my introduction to these trios. It was also my introduction to the Beaux Arts Trio, and the double introduction was a wonderful one.

The statement about death and loss they make is not quite detached, but indeed introspective throughout, though that introspection is in different levels and expressed in different ways. The Beaux Arts delivers a fine performance here. That's perhaps aided by this long-time trio being less "explosive" or hyperkinetic than some modern groupings; they bring a refinement of style to these trios that suits them well.

The performance quality is enhanced by very good recording quality; the sound is neither flat nor overmiked.

With ethos, pathos and logos........2005-05-16

These two Piano Trios are among Rachmaninoff's lesser known works, but not deservedly so. Rachmaninoff's major orchestral works (especially for piano and orchestra) tend to so overpower listeners of his music that - instead of seeking out other works by the Russian master - they search instead for other performances of their favourite works (I'm guilty of this as well, so I'm not meaning to cast any stones here).

The Elegiac Trios were composed in 1893 and 1894 as a tribute to the memory of Rachmaninoff's mentor, composer Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky, who had tragically commited suicide by drinking unboiled water, tainted with cholera bacteria. They reflect the obvious sorrow Rachmaninoff must have felt at the loss of his friend, and are the most somber pieces to emerge from his pen. Like Isle of the Dead, the subject of death is rendered with drama and pathos. Yet unlike Isle, the trios treat death in a more wistful and less defiant tone; the trios are more of a eulogy than the overwhelming catharsis of Die Toteninsel.

The Beaux Arts Trio is more than up to the task of performing this music of passion and loss. Founded in 1955, the Beaux Arts is one of the most renowned of chamber music ensembles. The First Trio is a one movement piece, which beautifully and energetically encapsulises all the emotions that Rachmaninoff clearly intended. They especially evince the piece's depth and maturity (which would be surprising for any other composer of twenty years of age, save the dark, enigmatic Rachmaninoff).

The Second Trio is a massive composition, written in three movements, with a playing time of 47 minutes, quite long by standards of chamber music, and longer than any of Rachmaninoff's works for piano and orchestra (including the unedited version of the Third Concerto). Both trios are anchored by the forthright pianism of Pressler, whose range conveys the whole palette of Rachmaninovian emotions, at times forceful, at others gentle and compassionate, yet always persuasively. Cohen's violin imparts the life themes with dignity, with an unsettling mixture of dolce and con funebre. Greenhouse's cello is warm, and full of vibrant colour and texture, yet always reminding the listener death's inevitability.

As a unit, the members of the Beaux Arts execute the piece with all the polish, fortitude and panache of a Special Forces platoon. Fortunately for this listener, this recording was my introduction to the Elegiac Trios, for you can hear the care and commitment that the musicians have for this work. Like all virtuoso ensembles, the Beaux Arts relate the piece with individuality, allowing the listener to hear each instrument discretely. Yet, what separates the Beaux Arts from lesser groups is their ability to communicate the music with one voice and singularity of purpose.

The recording itself by Philips has a very warm and three-dimensional sound; this is one of the few CDs I own where I don't have to turn the treble down much. It features a full frequency range, allowing the listener to soak in every nuance and subtlety, yet does not possess an annoyingly vast dynamic range that causes you to run for the volume knob every five minutes.

To sum up: This recording will imbue you with sorrow for Tchaikovsky's passing, a great respect for Rachmaninoff's gesture and pleasure for your ears, soul and mind.

Rachmaninoff - The Elegiaque Piano Trios

Average customer rating:

Two Thumbs Up!!!
Real Music
2003/2004 Penguin Guide gives this record high rating!
Agonisingly beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW

Rachmaninoff - The Elegiaque Piano Trios

Manufacturer: Tavros
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005RZOH
Release Date: 2001-10-24

Tracks:

Piano Trio in D minor Op. 9: Moderato-allegro moderato
Piano Trio in D minor Op. 9: Quasi variazone
Piano Trio in D minor Op. 9: Allegro risoluto
Piano Trio in G minor Op. Posth.: Lento lugubre

Album Description

Tavros Records announces the release of an exciting CD recording - Rachmaninoff's Elegiaque Piano Trios, performed by Korean pianist Yung Wook Yoo, Russian violinist Julia Sakharova, and from Iceland, cellist Margret Arnadottir.

The Rachmaninoff Elegiaque Piano Trios is a 64-minute CD containing Piano Trio Elegiaque in D minor, Op. 9, and Piano Trio Elegiaque No. 1 in G minor.

Customer Reviews:

Two Thumbs Up!!!.......2004-12-29

This is the performance that Rachmaninoff could only have dreamed of. Russian violinist Julia Sakharova, Icelandic Cellist Margret Arnadottir, and Korean Pianist Yung Wook Yoo combine their talents to create a sound which will echo in the depths of your soul; sometimes haunting, sometimes uplifting, and always captivating.

Mr.Yoo's technical expertise with the piano is surpassed only by his deep understanding of the feelings Rachmaninoff conveys in his composition. Ms.Arnadottir, similarly, handles her instrument with elegance and grace. The deep and rich sound of her cello fills up the whole CD. Finally the third person of this musical trinity, Ms.Sakharova, completes the masterpiece with the passionate, poignant, and intimate sound of her violin.

The Elegiaque Piano Trios recorded by Tavros will leave you mesmerized by beauty. You will hear three dedicated musicians who emphasize passion and understanding over the obsession with technical perfection so common in the world of Classical music today. It takes Romantics to properly play Romantic music and Tavros chose the right musicians. Rachmaninoff would be pleased.

Real Music.......2004-04-06

I find it very refreshing to hear real musical talent from such young artist. As an arts critique, I was mostly struck by the deeply fulfilling voice of Julia Sakharova's violin playing, which is clearly definitive of the Russian School. She demonstrates unabashed artistry, and is genuine and giving enough to not only serve us the soul of Rachmaninoff, but her soul as well.
--Well Done!

2003/2004 Penguin Guide gives this record high rating!.......2004-02-15

The 2003/2004 edition of the prestigious PENGUIN Guide to Compact Discs & DVDs (Published by Penguin Books: London, New York, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa) evaluates classical recordings with one to three stars, and gave this Tavros recording THREE stars ("An outstanding performance and recording in every way").

From: Rachmaninov Chamber Music listings (p. 1021):

Trios elégiaques Nos. 1 in G minor., Op. 8; 2 in D min., Op. 9.

*** Tavros EPT 4516. Yoo, Sakharova, Arnadóttir.

An outstanding new coupling of the paired Rachmaninov Trios elégiaques from this impressive group of young musicians - Korean pianist Yung Wook Yoo, Russian violinist Julia Sakharova, with the warm-toned Icelandic cellist, Margarét Arnadóttir. They make a fine team and give performances that are as passionate as they are lyrically spontaneous. The long elliptical first movement of Op. 8 is admirably shaped, and the pianist emerges with special distinction in the following even more extended set of variations. The D minor Trio is an elegy for Tchaikovsky and its atmosphere of Russian melancholy (the composer's marking is lento lugubre) is richly caught, notably by the cellist. The recording is vividly up front - on one occasion the bass end of the piano is made to seem right on top of the listener - but the performances are so committedly vivid and alive that this debut CD must be welcomed with enthuasiasm."

Agonisingly beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!.......2003-01-21

It is so rare to hear music like this, played with such passion and depth in this the age of mass production and indifference. On hearing the instrumentalists enter one by one, layering texture upon texture, slowly weaving together the immensely colourful fabric of this piece, I was staggered not only at the sheer beauty of the music but with the illustration of the talents that these musicians have. The depth of understanding that the performers posses allows them to portray the psychological insight that Rachmaninoff himself had into the enigmatic themes of love, pain and human fallibility. I would reccomend this recording to anyone as it allows all, even those who are less familiar with the classical and romantic genres to be enveloped into the music and for the longest time, transported into the inner depths of Rachmaninoff's emotions. It is truly beautiful, a must buy for any who know what the meaning of true beauty is to the ears.

WOW.......2002-01-04

This cd is a rare and wonderful discovery - amazing depth and sophistication from such youthful talent. Brilliant! A must have!!!!

Average customer rating:

THE TIDES OF LAMENTATION

Rachmaninoff: Trios Elegiaque

Manufacturer: Arabesque Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00004S2SV
Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

Trio Elegiaque in d, Op.9, ('In Memory Of A Great Artists'): Moderato/Allegro Vivace
Trio Elegiaque in d, Op.9, ('In Memory Of A Great Artists'): Quasi Variazione/Andante/Allegro...
Trio Elegiaque in d, Op.9, ('In Memory Of A Great Artists'): Allegro Risoluto
Trio Elegiaque in g: Lento Lugubre

Amazon.com

These two trios, both of a lamentatious, elegiac character, might be called "Homage to Tchaikovsky." Indeed, the longer one, in D-minor, Op. 9, was written in 1893 to express the 20-year-old composer's grief at the venerated master's death and, like Tchaikovsky's own Trio, written in memory of his mentor Nikolai Rubinstein 10 years earlier, is entitled "In Memory of a Great Artist." The young Rachmaninoff was obviously under his hero's influence, and pays him the ultimate homage of echoing his Trio's form and style, with a discursive first movement, variations on a chorale theme for the long central slow one, and a pugnacious, brilliant Finale. Clearly written by a virtuoso pianist, the piece still gives the strings a lot to do, but it is compromised by too much repetitiveness, both in small figures and overall design. The one-movement G-minor Trio, written a year earlier, is more inspired melodically and concise structurally. The record's most arresting element is the playing, which underlines the music's strengths and almost conceals its weaknesses. Golub is dazzling in his bravura part, yet he's a supportive collaborator; the string players sound wonderful, by turns warm and radiant, unfailingly expressive but never sentimental. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

THE TIDES OF LAMENTATION.......2003-08-13

Rachmaninov's soul-searching, sorrow-laden Trio Elegiaque, Op. 9, composed at the death of Tchaikovsky in 1893, and forming an incomparable Slavic nexus of anguish and lyricism, receives here what is unquestionably the finest performance I've ever heard. The Golub/Kaplan/Carr Trio, individually master musicians all, likewise unites in the most astounding collaboration of vision, intuitive artistry and emotional breadth. In their hands, tides of lamentation and grief rise and fall, inevitable, endless. It's a wondrous sadness that permeates this work and etches itself into one's heart. The rapt melancholy of the Andante variations, especially, captured so sensitively by pianist Golub, whose playing is more than exceptional throughout, is an incredibly moving experience; and, combined with the simpatico talents of Kaplan and Carr, awesomely so.

The earlier Trio of 1892, not published until 1947, could be easily mistaken for a discarded movement from the Op. 9, were it an actuality, its thirteen melodic minutes awash in the "lugubrious" give and take of what will become its poignant successor.

The recorded sound has a lovely burnished, autumnal glow that supports the G/K/C Trio and allows them the widest freedom of expression.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Heartbeat of the Earth [Import]

Magic Flutes

Let It Shine On Me

Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie [Import]

Stereo and God [Enhanced] [Import]

Never Say Goodbye

In the Lounge With [Import]

If Hunting Had to Be Told

It's My Way [Import]

Lookout for Hope

March of the Pigs [CD-single] [Import]

Impresionante "Sancocho"

Fenix [Import]

Stand in the Light: Especially for Youth

Jazz Music jazz-music-21

1. Piano Trio in D minor Op. 9: Moderato-allegro moderato
2. Piano Trio in D minor Op. 9: Quasi variazone
3. Piano Trio in D minor Op. 9: Allegro risoluto
4. Piano Trio in G minor Op. Posth.: Lento lugubre