The Trio in E-flat for three cellos is one of those tours de force of tone and texture that Reicha seemed able to toss off with astonishing ease. This also is a big work--27 minutes--in four movements and delightfully euphonious while at the same time far more colorful than we have any right to expect from this particular combination. An earlier work dating from 1807, there's more of Mozart and Haydn here than in the Piano Quintet, but certainly that's no penance.

The performances of both works leave little to be desired. In particular pianist Jaroslav Tuma plays a delightfully crisp-sounding fortepiano that offers a perfect foil to the more fulsome textures of the Kocian Quartet, and the three cellists match their tones extremely well. Best of all, the players have the energy and sheer stamina required to keep the music moving with the liveliness that characterizes all of this composer's best work. Fine sound rounds off an excellent release that can only do Reicha's reputation good.