With each subsequent CD release, the youthful Claremont Trio seems to be significantly upping the ante in regards to technical and musical demands of its programs. Its debut album featured Mendelssohn's piano trios, followed by a second album of Shostakovich and Arensky trios. This third album, which marks its 10-year anniversary as an ensemble, showcases six piano trios by American composers. All of these works, from Leon Kirchner's First Trio of 1954 to the 2002 String Band of Mason Bates (commissioned by the Claremont ...
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With each subsequent CD release, the youthful Claremont Trio seems to be significantly upping the ante in regards to technical and musical demands of its programs. Its debut album featured Mendelssohn's piano trios, followed by a second album of Shostakovich and Arensky trios. This third album, which marks its 10-year anniversary as an ensemble, showcases six piano trios by American composers. All of these works, from Leon Kirchner's First Trio of 1954 to the 2002 String Band of Mason Bates (commissioned by the Claremont Trio), demand the utmost in technical acumen. The Claremont Trio certainly has no shortage of technical skills. Interpretively, the ensemble plays with an abundance of vitality bordering on aggressiveness. While this approach works well in the frenetic opening of Zwilich's piano trio, there's little contrast when playing still, sustained movements like the Largo of Kirchner's first trio. Only so much intensity can be tolerated before a different aesthetic is needed. Of the six works on...
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