Sheer Mozart Perfection

The Florestan Trio show how a Mozart piano trio should be done.

Composer: Mozart
Repertoire: Piano Trios Nos 1, 4 & 5
Artists: Florestan Trio

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Instrumental
Label: Hyperion CDA67609

The trick with Mozart’s piano trios (especially when using modern instruments, as here) is to balance the various parts sensitively. Unlike the Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms trios, which potentially thrive on three equal personalities, with Mozart the lead line is the pianist’s right hand, followed by the violin, then the pianist’s left hand and finally (some distance behind for the most part) the cello. The Florestan Trio gets it exactly right, with Susan Tomes’s exquisite pianism perfectly counterpointed by violinist Anthony Marwood’s lithe, highly articulate playing and cellist Richard Lester’s finely judged asides. Another winner from this wonderful ensemble.