With a career that spanned six decades, it is unlikely that any single compilation could encompass the entire achievement of the Trio di Trieste. But this five-CD set does at least provide a glimpse of the ensemble in the repertoire for which it was best known. And in the repertoire for which it was best known, the Trio di Trieste was the best piano trio of the middle years of the twentieth century. Its Mozart was sublimely graceful, its Schubert was supremely lyrical, its Beethoven was sublimely majestic, and its Brahms was supremely human. Even in less familiar repertoire, the Trio di Trieste was superlative. Its Schumann was singularly dramatic, its
Ravel was selflessly passionate, and its Rameau as transcribed by
Saint-Saëns was simply delightful. But as excellent as its performances are, it is hard to draw a bead on the Trio di Trieste. Although the group's lucidity and expressivity is extraordinary, the Trio at its best is merely the window through which the music enters the room. Although only likely to initially appeal to listeners with long memories and deep pockets, this five-CD set is still well worth hearing for anyone who likes piano trios or chamber music. The sound of Deutsche Grammophon's remastered monaural and stereo originals is clean but slightly veiled.