PACM022:
Piano Trio No 7 in B flat, The "Archduke", Op. 97
- Beethoven
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Solomon
Henry Holst
Anthony Pini
Recorded in 1943, released as HMV 78s, C.3362-3366
Matrix
numbers: 2EA 10028-29-30-31-21-33-36-37-38-39
Takes: 5, 6, 5, 4, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6
(Duration
36'40")
Play
sample movement:
Solomon
There is little
doubt that Solomon Cutner - known simply as 'Solomon' - was one of
the great exponents of Beethoven. His style tended towards the poetic,
yet precise rather than flamboyant or showy, and was tragically cut short
by a series of mini-strokes, prior to the 'big one', as he was in the process
of recording an extensive Beethoven cycle in the 1950's.
Here
we find him on absolute top form with the Solomon Trio. This wonderfully
balanced recording of Beethoven's Archduke Trio brings us a performance
to truly savour. The Trio operates as a finely balanced unit, each responding
to every last nuance of the others, to create a sense of real musical
magic.
REVIEW
OF BEETHOVEN PIANO TRIO NO. 7 - "ARCHDUKE" Solomon, Holst, Pini (1943)
This
is an unusual performance of the "Archduke" Trio.
In spite of its high opus number (97), the "Archduke"
seemed to me to be centrally located in Beethoven's second period.
Though not as imperious as the "Eroica" symphony ,
the "Emperor" concerto or the "Rasoumovsky #1"
quartet, the "Archduke" still had given me the impression
for the 55 years of my listening life of a flag-bedecked royal
cruiser skimming the blue waves with existential certainty.
My first hearing of the first movement of this performance led
me to feel that the royal cruiser had been refitted as a slim,
swift cutter and I was having none of it. An immediate second
hearing, however, made me realize that the cutter's destination
was most interesting: it led out of Beethoven's 2nd period and
joined its companions at the threshold of Beethoven's 3rd period:
the 10th violin sonata, Op. 96, the 4th and 5th cello sonatas,
Op. 102, the 28th piano sonata, Op. 101.
So
this performance of the "Archduke", led by Solomon's
exquisitely lapidary pianism, emphasizes head over heart.
There is still much excitement, as will be found in the recapitulation
of the first movement and all through the scherzo. But the
slow movement at a flowing tempo achieves a peace and serenity
and stillness that is out of the reach of second period Beethoven
and most other "Archduke" performers. I still like
my "Archduke" with dollops of whipped cream and
I will not give up my Cortot/Casals/Thibaud nor my Istomin/Stern/Rose,
but this "thinking man's Archduke" with its appropriately
enhanced sonics will remain on my shelves.
Reviewer:
Bill Rosen
Find
out more:
"Archduke"
Piano Trio in B flat 2nd mvt - Scherzo - Allegro
