Chamber, Romantic and Intense
Shostakovich’s music is charged with a life-or-death intensity that his chamber music crystallizes with devastating impact. This collection spans the early, surprisingly romantic Piano Trio No. 1 (written by a 17-year-old in love) and his valedictory work, the austere and heartbreaking Sonata for Viola and Piano, Opus 134. In between are works seething with demonic political and personal struggles the composer battled all his life--the Sonata for Violoncello, Opus 40; the conflicted Piano Trio No. 2, Opus 67; and the Sonata for Violin and Piano, Opus 134.
The playing could hardly be better. The Kalichstein Laredo Robinson Trio delivers bright, committed performances that make this disc a necessity.
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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).
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