These performances by the Vienna Piano Trio are sharply profiled, warm, and exciting. The players really know how to "swing" the German dance finale of...

These performances by the Vienna Piano Trio are sharply profiled, warm, and exciting. The players really know how to "swing" the German dance finale of the E-flat trio, yet they show plenty of sensitivity in the beautiful slow movements of the E minor, C major, and G major works (that of the E-flat trio is a charming little Andantino ed innocentemente). They also pace the first movement of the E minor trio with an impressive feel for the music's emotional tensions and characteristic gestures (such as Haydn's always telling use of sudden pauses).

The finale of the G major trio is the famous Hungarian rondo, and like so many groups active these days this ensemble may be accused of laying on the paprika a bit too thickly, with exaggerated contrasts of tempo and dynamics--but it's certainly a legitimate approach. These are all mature works, showing the composer at his most beguilingly innovative, and if you're looking to dip into this still relatively little-known store of major pieces, then this extremely well recorded disc will be just the ticket.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com