Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Wolf-Ferrari Piano Trios
Brilliant Classics

Wolf-Ferrari Piano Trios

$13.99

Details

Composer
WOLF-FERRARI, ERMANNO
Artist
TRIO MEZZENA-PATRIA-BALLARIO
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Jul 05, 2019
Catalog #
BRI95553
UPC
5028421955537

About

How many labels can boast not one but two recordings of Wolf-Ferrari's piano trios? But they're so good, they're worth recording (and hearing) more than once. As Norman Lebrecht remarked of the well-received album of Trio Arche (BC95624), 'The two trios... put an instant summer's smile on the sourest of faces. The gift for melody is abundant and the interaction of piano, violin and cello is as infectious and irresistible as a well-made goal in football. Barely half an hour long, either of these trios will make your day... Go on, treat yourself.' Both written early in his career, the trios share the inventiveness and communicative vibrancy of his better-known operas and symphonic works such as the wind concertos on another recent Brilliant Classics release (BC95875). The Op. 5 Trio shows off the confidence of Wolf-Ferrari with quirky juxtapositions of key and an abruptly offhand conclusion to the Scherzo, and a whimsical discursiveness of the Finale that might be described as the lovechild of Schubert and Faure. More ambitious in scope, the Op.7 F sharp minor Trio opens with an expansive, brooding opening movement (lots of harmonic unrest reminiscent of Cesar Franck) followed by two much briefer movements of uncomplicated charm. Wolf-Ferrari's writing for the notoriously tricky combination of instruments is notably sympathetic, allowing the two string instruments to flourish without being overwhelmed by the piano. This ensemble, highly praised in the pages of La Stampa, is led by Franco Mezzena, whose extensive discography of lesser- known Italian chamber music includes most recently the complete quartets of Viotti (BC95264).

Tracklist 7 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro molto moderato 13:15
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro molto moderato
    Duration
    13:15
    Composer
    Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
    Performer
    Franco Mezzena, Sergio Patria, Elena Ballario
  2. 2 II. Presto 06:32
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Presto
    Duration
    06:32
    Composer
    Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
    Performer
    Franco Mezzena, Sergio Patria, Elena Ballario
  3. 3 III. Larghetto 09:36
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Larghetto
    Duration
    09:36
    Composer
    Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
    Performer
    Franco Mezzena, Sergio Patria, Elena Ballario
  4. 4 IV. Allegro vivace assai 09:59
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Allegro vivace assai
    Duration
    09:59
    Composer
    Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
    Performer
    Franco Mezzena, Sergio Patria, Elena Ballario
  5. 5 I. Sostenuto 17:03
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Sostenuto
    Duration
    17:03
    Composer
    Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
    Performer
    Franco Mezzena, Sergio Patria, Elena Ballario
  6. 6 II. Largo 05:06
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
    Performer
    Franco Mezzena, Sergio Patria, Elena Ballario
  7. 7 III. Lievement mosso, e tranquillo sempre 04:43
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Lievement mosso, e tranquillo sempre
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
    Performer
    Franco Mezzena, Sergio Patria, Elena Ballario