Easily two of the most frequently performed and recorded piano trios in the literature,
Mendelssohn's C minor and D minor trios have retained the same crowd-pleasing popularity they had when premiered nearly a century and a half ago.
Schumann's prophecy that the D minor trio would thrill generations to come has certainly come true.
Mendelssohn's nimble and intricate writing in both trios deliver mercurial effervescence, lyrical beauty, and sinister brooding along with an abundance of colors and textures. Heard on this Bridge disc is the
Argenta Trio, attempting to add its contribution to the vast field of recordings available of these two trios. From a technical perspective,
Argenta is a polished group. Intonation from the strings is typically solid; articulation and rubato are well-matched from all three performers. Balance and recorded sound quality are not ideal, however. The group as a whole presents a slightly muffled, hazy sound, and the cello's voice is often stifled even when it carries the melody, as is often the case. Musically,
Argenta fails to distinguish itself from other options available to listeners. Its pacing tends to be far too languid for
Mendelssohn, and the tempo even seems to drag and become slower as movements progress. Where's the agitation in the D minor opening movement? Or the fire in the opening of the C minor? The almost electric C minor Scherzo starts with a small spark but quickly dims as the energy diminishes. This somewhat lackadaisical approach to a composer whose music thrives on energy, drive, and vigor yields a disc that could be passed by.