The Joachim Trio turns in wonderful performances of the two finest piano trios written in the second half of the 19th century. The F minor Trio is a staggering masterpiece whose comparative neglect by performers is inexplicable. It's perfectly constructed, gorgeously written for the three players, and contains some of the composer's best tunes. These young players show a profound grasp of the composer's idiom: they catch the second movement's "two against three" rhythmic ambiguity perfectly; the "poco adagio" is just that--not too slow, but intimate as a kiss. The finale's ultimate resolution in a major key, following a last reminiscence of the first movement's principal theme, brings an almost physical release of tension. After the emotional intensity of this work, the playful and popular "Dumky" Trio--each of its six short movements based on the same Ukrainian dance form--comes as a welcome contrast. If this group's recording of the composer's two early trios is as good as this Volume One, Naxos will really have something to be proud of.
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