Frederic Chopin: Waltzes (Jean-Marc Luisada)
Apple Lossless (XLD) | Cue + Log | Deutsche Grammophon 431 779-2 | 1 CD, 191 MB
Classical | Cover, no scans | Rapidshare

Though Luisada is by no means old, his playing takes us back to another age.
Arthur Rubinstein boasted that he changed the way Chopin was perceived, making him more masculine and straightforward than romantic players like de Pachmann and Paderewski did. Rubinstein's Chopin was in fact a reflection of his own more literal time – a time that also produced Backhaus and Toscanini – as well as Rubinstein's own love for the classiciam of Brahms which, under the influence of Joachim, pre-dated the Polish expatriate's love for Chopin.
Rubinstein clearly felt uncomfortable with the feminine, salon qualities that cannot be divorced from Chopin's sensibility. Descriptions of the composer's own playing make it clear that he was improvisatory, ethereal in his dynamics and that he reveled in rubato; Chopin was even accused of not being able to play in time. These qualities are rarely evident in modern players, who imagine they present a "greater" Chopin by robbing him of his true personality.
Luisada is not a modern player. His Chopin evokes memories of some of the greatest interpreters of earlier ages – especially de Pachmann and Maryla Jonas (whose rare recordings are available from Pearl). Luisada's rubato will seem willful and wayward to those raised to believe Rubinstein was the last word on Chopin, but it will delight those who would like to hear something closer to the first word.

–Amazon.com [5-star] review

Mendelssohn: Piano Trios Nos. 1 & 2 (Istomin, Stern, Rose)
Apple Lossless (XLD) | Cue + Log | Sony Classical | 1 CD, 285 MB
Classical | Cover, no scans | Rapidshare

Chamber Music seems so right during the boisterous mechanics of the holidays and one sure respite from the garish noise of the external season can be found in works like the Mendelssohn Piano Trios.

Here Eugene Istomin, Leonard Rose, Isaac Stern perform Piano Trios 1 and 2 in a manner that bespeaks camaraderie of the performers as well as a complete respect for these luminous works. Some have called these works piano sonatas with obbligato and while for this listener that is an unfair judgment, Eugene Istomin plays the piano part with enough flair and thoughtful propulsion that he does at times sound the more important. But that is Mendelssohn's writing and not a self-aggrandizement of a pianist.

The overall sound is simply superb. These two trios are some of the loveliest ever written from that era and the gentlemen performing them offer sophisticated and informed interpretations. The recording is excellent, the music is rarefied! Highly recommended.

– Amazon.com [5-star] reviewer

Brahms: Piano Trios Nos. 1-3, Cello Sonata No.2 (Katchen, Suk, Starker)
Apple Lossless (XLD) | With Log Files | Decca | 2 CDs, 522 MB
Classical | Cover, no scans | Rapidshare

In the age of Argerich, who brings tightrope-walker tension to chamber music, I doubt that anyone plays the Brahms piano trios with the kind of mellow lushness heard here. Katchen's conception of Brahms was large-scaled but smooth, warm without much psychological struggle. Suk was a honey-toned violinist, and although Starker was the modernist among the three, what's notable here is how perfectly in unison he is with Suk (and blissfully in tune). Decca puts the piano in the middle and the string players close up in their own channels left and right. The result is wide-screen and artificial, of course, since it makes the cello sound as loud as the piano. but the sonic effect is quite luscious.

I've saved my remarks about te interpretations for last. The Brahms trios have attracted great collaborations, and I wouldn't place this one above, say, Istomin-Stern-Rose although it runs ahead of the Beaux Art Trio, for sheer beauty of tone if nothing else. The shortcoming here is a tendency toward cautiousness; these are middle-of-the-road readings that don't capture Brahms' deepest passions. He is placed in the sun too often. But the first two trios aren't sturm and drang works. If you want large-scale performances caught in gorgeous sound, here you go.

–Amazon.com [4 stars] reviewer

Tchaikovsky & Smetana: Piano Trios (Vienna Piano Trio 2007)
FLAC (xACT) | With Cue & Log | MD&G Gold #3421512 | 1 CD, 298.6 MB
Classical | Cover, no scans | Rapidshare

The Smetana G minor Trio here makes an ideal pairing for the Tchaikovsky and helps to seal the deal for a winner of a disc. The Vienna Piano Trio encompass both composers’ changing moods with a flowing naturalness to rival much starrier versions. The sound from Dabringhaus und Grimm is also terrific – there’s a real flair to the instruments.

– Gramophone [2/2009]