Donald Satz wrote:

>These early Beethoven chamber works are so good that I'm always surprised
>when I hear them.  They don't possess the trail-blazing qualities or
>profundity of mature Beethoven.  Those features are replaced by a
>delightful innocence and further bridging between the classical and early
>romantic periods.

I wouldn't say they are *innocent*.  I don't think Beethoven ever composed
*innocent* music.  Of course we would have to define *innocence* first
which seems too difficult for a small mind like mine.  I think the string
trios are rather daring and in their moments of restlessness and sudden
conflict very much point forward to later works (more so than for instance
the op.18 quartets with the possible exception of no 5 & 6).


>Hyperion has released two discs which contain Beethoven's four string
>trios and serenade.  The performers are the Leopold Trio, and they are
>professional.  Tempos are judicious, intonation is fine, and recorded sound
>is acceptable.  However, the recorded competition brings a deadly failing
>to the table.

These I haven't heard yet.

>For comparison, I used L'Archibudelli on Sony Vivarte and
>Mutter/Rostropovich/Giuranna on DG.  The Mutter has an exhilarating
>bounce and joy that is infectious.  The Leopold is somewhat flat and
>stodgy; never is there any lift to it.  Going to the L'Archibudelli, on
>period instruments, we find similar qualities to the Mutter with any
>significant differences attributable to faster tempos by the
>L'Archibudelli.

The difference between the Mutter and L'Archibudelli seems to me that the
latter ensemble make (once more) for a very lightheaded interpretation
(would we call that *innocence* maybe?) which is reflected the the fast
tempos.  I always like what they have to say and listen to them with joy
and respect while almost never totally agreeing...

My favourite recording remains that of the Grumiaux Trio, which possesses
at the same time a radiance and sense of conflict, an ease of music making
and an emphasis on struggle which makes the most of these wonderful works.
And there's Grumiaux himself, the master among masters.

Well, I get carried away...  just my 2c.  It's available on a Philips
twofer.

Philip Peters