Schubert: Trio No. 1, Nocturne, Sonatensatz

On this CD:

1. Piano Trio in B flat major, D. 898 (Op. 99)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Mozartean Players

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Steven Lubin's Mozartean Players haven't been a prolific recording group, but its discs are usually treasures. This one certainly is: a gorgeous period instrument performance of one of Schubert's greatest masterpieces, played in a style that demonstrates convincingly why period instruments can be such an asset in appreciating Schubert's music. The way Schubert's phrases emerge from these soft-toned instruments sounds completely natural, and their balance is clear and realistic without any player having to force his tone to be heard. With relaxed tempos and all indicated repeats taken, the Trio lasts more than 40 minutes, not a second too long for this glorious music. The early Sonatensatz (D. 28), although it has moments of interest, is usually included in trio recordings just for the sake of completeness. But the beautiful Nocturne (D. 897), probably a rejected movement from one of the composer's Trios, is an example of prime Schubert. The disappearance of this disc from the catalogs was a sad event; its restoration at such a low price is a renewed opportunity that clever collectors shouldn't miss. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

One of the best of the Masterworks series.......2007-07-06

Brilliant Classics' "Masterworks" series, if you can get them cheaply (and currently they go for about $1/CD from Amazon's France Web site), are a great way to amass a significant library of the works of several great computers. The production values and the performances themselves are uneven, and the interpretations are not always historically-informed (unlike the bulk of Brilliant's "Complete Editions" of the works of Bach and Mozart). But there are numerous gems in the rough in The Masterworks, and the economic value is unsurpassed, even if you were to throw away half of the CDs in each set.

You're unlikely to throw away much of this Schubert collection though. This seems to be the finest of the Masterworks sets, with a succession of solid, often first-rate performances of most of the major Schubert works. Here's what you get:

- The symphonies, performed by The Hanover Band in a historically-informed style. Very interesting performances perhaps marred by an odd recording balance that makes the woodwinds sound distant. Takes up four CDs
- The six Latin masses. Also the Deutsche Messe in the version with wind instruments. Five CDs in all
- Edison Denisov's completion of Schubert's unfinished dramatic work Lazarus (2 CDs, Helmuth Rilling's premier recording)
- The last four string quartets (including the Quartettsatz) with #9 thrown in. Also the octet, piano quintet ("The Trout"), string quintet and both piano trios. In short all the canonical chamber works. Performances are strong, and well recorded
- Two CDs of violin/piano duets, including Op. 137 and Op. 162
- 19 of the 21 "canonical" piano sonatas (missing #7 and #12) as well as the Moments Musicaux, Impromptus, German Dances, Wanderer Fantasy and several other piano works, 11 CDs in all. As with the chamber music, the performances and recordings are strong, often stunning
- Two CDs of piano duets, including the Divertissements and D. 617
- Song cycles: Die Schöne Müllerin, Winterreise, Schwanengesang, and four CDs of standalone songs, including such "standards" as Erlkönig and Gretchen am Spinnrade. The singers are a bit uneven here, ranging from standouts Robert Holl, Deitrich Fischer-Dieskau and John Shirley-Quirk to the somewhat shrill Arleen Augér

Missing from the collection is Rosamunde, and a number of famous songs: Die Forelle (The Trout), Death and the Maiden, Ellens Gesang III (the so-called Ave Maria, D. 839), Der Hirt auf dem Felsen and Der Wanderer. But you do have almost all the important instrumental works, and most of the vocal works generally considered to be essential, with some padding added in the form of minor works such as the parochial Deutsche Messe, the German Dances, and the modernist-informed completion of Lazarus by the 20th Century Russian composer Denisov.

As with the other Masterworks sets, there are no program notes. You'll need to do your own research. Answers.com is a good starting point for Schubert compositions. There are also no song texts or translations provided, so again you'll need to track down your own. Try "The Lied and Art Song Texts Page" for lieder lyrics and translations. Hunt down a good price on this collection, browsing one of Amazon's European sites if necessary, and treat yourself to many hours of lovely music for the cost of a modest night out.

Will not buy this.......2007-03-16

I can't see D965 or D945 on this 40 disks worth of Schubert. Bizarre! There are so many great songs missing it scares me.

Worth it!.......2006-12-19

One of the best in "The Masterpices" series. Many of the discs (the symphonies in particular) were licensed from Nimbus and other full-line labels. Not all that long ago these discs would have set you back $18 to $20 a piece. That said, I still wouldn't part with my Hyperion collection. 40 CD's at this price... you can't go wrong.

Great way to jumpstart a schubert collection.......2006-12-19

Hartmut Holl, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Stephanie Brown, and Jaime Laredo as well as the Stuttgart Bach Collegium performing Schubert are hardly "left-behind artists and ensembles" as the previous naysayer states. These are licensed from major label releases and from the original masters issued at a bargain price, especially for the number of discs you get. Sound quality ranges from good to excellent. Good for all Schubertians and anyone who wants to jumpstart a Schubert collection.

Better to Pick a Few First-rate Performances.......2006-11-14

This is a bargain in dollar/listening time ratio, but who cares? There are many second-rate performances by left-behind artists and ensembles. Obviously the economics of resurrecting disks that don't require royalties has been the driving factor of selection. (On the other hand, the complete edition boxed sets of Bach and Mozart, which you'll find if you look, are stupendous successes artistically.)

Schubert: Trio No. 1, Nocturne, Sonatensatz

Average customer rating:

Schubert: Trio No. 1, Nocturne, Sonatensatz

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi / Classical Express
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Schubert: Piano Trio No. 2

ASIN: B000059WLL
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Amazon.com

Steven Lubin's Mozartean Players haven't been a prolific recording group, but its discs are usually treasures. This one certainly is: a gorgeous period instrument performance of one of Schubert's greatest masterpieces, played in a style that demonstrates convincingly why period instruments can be such an asset in appreciating Schubert's music. The way Schubert's phrases emerge from these soft-toned instruments sounds completely natural, and their balance is clear and realistic without any player having to force his tone to be heard. With relaxed tempos and all indicated repeats taken, the Trio lasts more than 40 minutes, not a second too long for this glorious music. The early Sonatensatz (D. 28), although it has moments of interest, is usually included in trio recordings just for the sake of completeness. But the beautiful Nocturne (D. 897), probably a rejected movement from one of the composer's Trios, is an example of prime Schubert. The disappearance of this disc from the catalogs was a sad event; its restoration at such a low price is a renewed opportunity that clever collectors shouldn't miss. --Leslie Gerber

Schubert: Trio Nos. 1 & 2/Notturno/Sonatansatz In B Flat Major

Average customer rating:

Period Schubert with great allure and good sound

Schubert: Trio Nos. 1 & 2/Notturno/Sonatansatz In B Flat Major

Manufacturer: Koch Discover Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000225Z
Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

Trio No. 1 in B flat Op. 99, D 898: Allegro moderato
Trio No. 1 in B flat Op. 99, D 898: Andante un poco mosso
Trio No. 1 in B flat Op. 99, D 898: Scherzo: Allegro
Trio No. 1 in B flat Op. 99, D 898: Rondo: Allegro Vivace
Notturno Op. posth. 148, D 987, in E flat

Tracks:

Trio No. 2 in E flat Op. 100, D 929: Allegro
Trio No. 2 in E flat Op. 100, D 929: Andante con moto
Trio No. 2 in E flat Op. 100, D 929: Scherzando: Allegro moderato
Trio No. 2 in E flat Op. 100, D 929: Allegro moderato
Sonatensatz in B flat, D 28: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Period Schubert with great allure and good sound.......2007-01-11

This is an earlier version of the Florestan Trio, not the Englishmen currently making recordings of distinction -- Susan Tomes, piano, Anthony Marwood, violin, and Richard Lester, cello. This no-name group made these splendid recordings for Koch International's low-priced Discovery label in the early 1990s using period instruments.

Even though the cost is low, the players did not discount the distinguished performances of Schubert: Trio Nos. 1 & 2, the Notturno and Sonatansatz In B Flat Major. To the contrary, this is wonderful music-making on a broad scale with 19th century romance intact. There is nothing tiny, tinny or narrow in the players' instruments or in their interpretations of these glorious scores.

I bought this after an Amazon search, hoping I could locate a period set that sounded good and was at least equal to the reduced single disk period performances of the trios by Bylsma et al on Sony. I think these readings are more in keeping with the Romantic era; they are warm, expansive, retain the repeats and gently caress Schubert's contours while maintaining the expressive emotional devices. The two makeweightts -- in particular the Notturno -- are beautifully managed and add an element of surprise and loveliness to these otherwise fine performances.

Looks like this 2-CD set is out of print so test the sound bytes now and buy today if this sounds like it could be for you. I was very pleasantly surprised by this set after hearing Beaux Arts, Ashkenazy's trio and others do this music. This is definitely a keeper.