Notes and Editorial Reviews
A magnificent cycle - superb interpretations that haven't been superseded
The Beethoven piano trios have been at the hub of the Beaux Arts Trio's repertoire throughout its long history. Despite a series of personnel switches, the group's approach to Beethoven has remained outstandingly consistent for more than 40 years. The first ever Beaux Arts Beethoven set is currently available in Philips' "The Early Years" series. It was produced during the mid-1960s and did not include transcriptions of the Op. 20 Septet or Second symphony. When Isador Cohen replaced founding violinist Daniel Guilet in 1968, the group (which also included the pianist Menahem Pressler, longest serving member of the ensemble, and cellist
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Bernard Greenhouse) would not return to Beethoven for another decade.
The trio's next traversal, heard here, was recorded between 1979 and 1983. This magnificent cycle still has but one serious rival at this price, in the shape of Vol. 9 of DG's "Complete Beethoven Edition", which includes performances by the Kempff-Szeryng-Fournier trio. DG's recordings were acceptable, but unlike Philips' they never were in the demonstration category. Now that the Beaux Arts Trio's second cycle is available again, DG's set seems less attractive, though its superbly illustrated booklet is well worth having anyway.
Philips' mid-priced boxes don't go the extra mile with presentation, however this one at least offers a useful reprint of Hans Christoph Worbs' original notes along with comprehensive track listings--but that's about it. These performances originally were issued as a boxed set back in 1991 (432 281-2). A decade later, these superb interpretations haven't been superseded.
--Michael Jameson, ClassicsToday.com Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Trio for Piano and Strings no 1 in E flat major, Op. 1 no 1 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello),
Menahem Pressler (Piano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1794-1795; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 06/1980
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 30 Minutes 39 Secs.
2.
Trio for Piano and Strings no 2 in G major, Op. 1 no 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello),
Menahem Pressler (Piano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1794-1795; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 06/1980
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 33 Minutes 16 Secs.
3.
Allegretto for Piano and Strings in B flat major, WoO 39 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello),
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Menahem Pressler (Piano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1812; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 05/1979
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 7 Minutes 39 Secs.
4.
Trio for Piano and Strings no 3 in C minor, Op. 1 no 3 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Menahem Pressler (Piano),
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1794-1795; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 06/1981
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 27 Minutes 45 Secs.
5.
Trio for Piano and Strings no 6 in E flat major, Op. 70 no 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Menahem Pressler (Piano),
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1808; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 06/1981
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 29 Minutes 21 Secs.
6.
Trio for Piano and Strings no 10 in E flat major, Op. 44 "Variations on an Original Theme" by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Menahem Pressler (Piano),
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1792; Bonn, Germany
Date of Recording: 05/1979
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 14 Minutes 37 Secs.
7.
Trio for Piano and Strings no 7 in B flat major, Op. 97 "Archduke" by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Menahem Pressler (Piano),
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1810-1811; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 05/1979
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 30 Minutes 36 Secs.
8.
Trio for Piano and Strings no 9 in E flat major, WoO 38 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Menahem Pressler (Piano),
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: ?1791; Bonn, Germany
Date of Recording: 05/1979
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 15 Minutes 52 Secs.
9.
Trio for Piano and Strings no 11 in G major, Op. 121a "Kakadu Variations" by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Menahem Pressler (Piano),
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1803/1816; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 05/1979
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 18 Minutes 59 Secs.
10.
Trio for Piano, Clarinet and Cello in E flat major, Op. 38 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Menahem Pressler (Piano),
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1803; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 05/1982
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 42 Minutes 49 Secs.
11.
Trio for Piano and Strings no 5 in D major, Op. 70 no 1 "Ghost" by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Menahem Pressler (Piano),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1808; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 09/1981
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 30 Minutes 5 Secs.
12.
Symphony no 2 in D major, Op. 36 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello),
Menahem Pressler (Piano),
Isidore Cohen (Violin)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1801-1802; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 05/1982
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 36 Minutes 3 Secs.
13.
Trio for Piano and Strings no 12 in E flat major, Hess 48 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello),
Menahem Pressler (Piano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: circa 1790-1792; Bonn, Germany
Date of Recording: 05/1982
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 4 Minutes 1 Secs.
14.
Trio for Piano, Clarinet/Violin and Cello no 4 in B flat major, Op. 11 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Menahem Pressler (Piano),
Isidore Cohen (Violin),
Bernard Greenhouse (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Beaux Arts Trio
Period: Classical
Written: 1797; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 09/1981
Venue: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Length: 21 Minutes 51 Secs.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
First rate performance Second rate recording December 1, 2013
By Richard A. (Westmount, QC) See All My Reviews
"To this listener this set is marred by poor recording/mixing techniques. The piano seems too closely miked in comparison to the cello and violin. At times the piano is in the room while the cello and violin are down the hall. Surely some balance can be found?"
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