MUSIC REVIEW : Beaux Arts Trio at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

For the occasion of its Los Angeles Philharmonic-sponsored program on Sunday evening, the Beaux Arts Trio hewed to dead-center of the standard repertory, perhaps for the purpose of attracting as many bodies as possible to the vast Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, hardly a heaven-sent venue for the intimate muse.

Still, to downplay the pleasures of hearing Haydn’s Trio in E-flat, Hob. 29, Ravel’s Trio in A minor and Schubert’s B-flat Trio in such vital, informed readings as the Beaux Arts’ would be churlish if not downright stupid.

Pianist Menahem Pressler, violinist Isidore Cohen and cellist Peter Wiley are the top of their field and on Sunday they were at the top of their form.

Their Romantic approach to the quietly melancholy Haydn proved appropriate, while Ravel and Schubert sang their hearts out, sensuously in the former, with pristine sweetness in the latter.

Nonetheless, at least one listener could yearn for a taste of something slightly off-center, a bit dangerous--say a trio by Roussel, Turina or Martinu, or Ives, Copland, William Schuman.