Brain's performance of Dukas' ravishing little frolic, Villanelle, is nothing less than sensational. It's not just a stream of formidable leaps and flashy runs, but, responding to his very enthusiastic audience, Brain finds room for subtle refinements and delivers a clinic in breath control, phrasing, and articulation within the context of a piece that's already devilishly difficult. Similarly, in the horn entrance in the Andante of the Mozart quintet--this work and the Brahms Trio were recorded in BBC's London studios six months earlier--Brain spins a strand of pure gold out of Mozart's elegantly simple theme. It's a small gesture but it's borne of a rare and intense musicality. The Brahms, in which Brain is joined by partners Max Salpeter (violin) and Cyril Preedy (piano), shows three musicians in complete communicative harmony, as energetically, intently involved in the performance as we can imagine. The live concert sound really does give us a sense of being there that August evening--and not only because of coughs (politely kept to breaks at ends of movements) or clapping. The piano is a bit tinny on top and the balances aren't consistent, but these turn out to be very minor artifacts; the studio recordings are not balanced any better (the strings in the Mozart are a bit stifled), but again, your ear immediately adapts. Brain fans will need this. [10/14/2000]