Are these the best recorded performances of
Beethoven's two Piano Trios, Op. 70? Probably not. With superlative recordings out there from everyone from
Cortot,
Thibaud, and
Casals to
Kempff,
Szeryng, and
Fournier, it's unlikely that the
Xyrion Trio of pianist
Nina Tichman, violinist Ida Biehler, and cellist
Maria Kliegel would take first place. Are these performances still worth listening to? Yes, absolutely. The
Xyrion Trio is not only a polished and powerful ensemble, the musicians are entirely committed to each other and wholly dedicated to the music, and their performances have the kind of energy, insight, and dedication that the finest earlier players brought to the music. So, even with fond memories of earlier recordings, the
Xyrion's performances are well worth hearing. The strength of the D major "Ghost" Trio, the subtlety of the E flat major Trio, and the nuances of the Variations in E flat major are as compelling in their way as the best recordings of the past, and anyone who loves the music will enjoy these performances. Naxos' sound, while clean and lucid, is a bit remote.