Formed in 2005 while students at the Folkwang Conservatory in Germany, the
Morgenstern Piano Trio has enjoyed a rather meteoric rise in prominence, even capturing the 2010 Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson International Trio Award. On this 2011 Azica album, the
Morgensterns have veered away from standard repertoire and instead chosen a program that matches their own youthful, up-and-coming personality. The Trio in G minor of Bedrich Smetana, the C minor Trio of
Dmitry Shostakovich, and the Trio of
Leonard Bernstein represent early compositions of each composer, long before they achieved their own recognition and acclaim. Though the
Smetana Trio can be found on concert programs here and there, the
Shostakovich and
Bernstein are scarcely heard; this is a true shame since in the right hands, all three of these works provide an important insight into the early development of their composers and are musically fulfilling in their own right. The
Morgenstern Trio is just such a group. Its playing is vibrant and energetic while possessing a refinement and maturity far beyond its years. The tight ensemble, well-matched articulation and pacing, and polished intonation are more indicative of a group that has played together for decades, not half of one. What's even more pleasing is the variety of colors produced to match each score. The Smetana is deeply emotional,
Shostakovich is visceral and edgy, and
Bernstein is rich in textural variety. The
Morgensterns have a lot to offer with this type of less-common but still worthwhile repertoire; we can all hope that they might continue on this path.