These three Catalan piano trios reveal illuminating facets of each composer. Roberto Gerhard�s early trio exudes a distinctly French ethos, alongside that of de Falla,...

These three Catalan piano trios reveal illuminating facets of each composer. Roberto Gerhard�s early trio exudes a distinctly French ethos, alongside that of de Falla, very different from his later asperity. Xavier Montsalvatge�s much later work, written between 1986 and 1988, owes its origin to disparate sources but forms an impressive whole, and is lyrical, expressive, sensual and dance-like in turn. Admired as a cellist, Gaspar Cassad� composed a brilliantly virtuoso trio, influenced by earlier Spanish models, but revealing great panache and considerable demands via guitar imitations, Malague�a rhythms and lashings of folkloric brio.