Rachmaninoff

I was pleased to discover that we have here three dyed-in-the-wool musicians having earned their laurels at prestigious podia. Not just because that is what it says in the liner notes, but, more importantly, what I had the pleasure to savour right from my first listening session.

Trios have little room for mistakes. It’s only after gaining extended experience and having an almost sixth sense for what the other does or is about to do that playing together gets that fundamental input on which excellence can be built in a framework of mutual recognition. In this debut album, the Hermitage Piano Trio give ample proof that all accolades having come their way are true, painting with a perceptive but nonetheless firm brush a musical picture covering all shades from dark sienna to light blush. In both plaintive élégiaque trios, they play with such great and admirably sensitive passion, respecting not only the long melodic lines but also the sombre mood (especially in the second trio), as though the post-adolescent nostalgia of the Russian master had taken over their brains and veins. This is an account that pays tribute to him and creates delight for the listener.

Transliteration of Russian names remains a subject of prime interest for many scholars in different countries and from different language backgrounds. One can think of many ways to transliterate Рахма́нинов. Rachmaninoff is one of them and it’s probably more correct than Rachmaninov, especially if the man says so himself! But the French and the Germans have - as the (pronunciation) case may be - their own rules. For the listener, however, this does not change an iota. Music is a universal language and the Hermitage Piano Trio speak it wonderfully well.

And wasn’t it high time to have both trios on one disc with detailed, historically informed liner notes and, as the proverbial cherry on the cake, a fine Vocalise arrangement as a bonus? What more can one possibly ask for?