Rachmaninov: Trios élégiaques Nos. 1 & 2

Mathern, Bernard; Ball, Alan James; Beaussier, Elisabeth

Rachmaninoff’s chamber music is limited to a small body of works: the two trios and the Sonate for Cello and Piano. Two unfinished string quartets complete this list, all five works being composed before 1902. The first Elegiac Trio was conceived and written down in only four days, between the 18th and 21st of Jaunuary 1892, the first performance taking place on January 30th. The work remained unpublished until 1947. Rachmaninoff’s tormented, almost morbid disposition is deeply sounded at the very beginning of the first section lento lugubre. A mysterious background of murmuring strings preambles the lyrical flight of the piano’s first theme, followed by a variety of other episodes rich and full of melodic plenitude, pathos and passion, writing already representative of the mature Rachmaninoff to come. The second Elegiac Trio was inspired by the sudden death of Tchaikovsky in October 1893. Pianist Alan J. Ball hails from Utah. He has a Master’s degree from the New York Juilliard School, and has been awarded in many competitions. He shares his time between teaching in Meudon’s music school and concerting. Violinist Bernard Mathern was awarded first prize for violin and chamber music at the Paris National Conservatory of Music. From 1996 to 2001 he was music director of the Havre national orchestra. Elisabeth Beaussier was awarded first prize for cello during her time at the Brussels Royal Music Conservatory. Today, she teaches cello and chamber music in the Meudon music school.

Price: $27.98