You can exist as a chamber music ensemble for years (in the case of the Gryphon trio, 25 years!), make recordings that receive exuberant reviews in, let’s say the Gramophone Magazine:
“But if you want the complete Mozart trios, this new set matches the classic Beaux Arts in polish and sensitivity, and surpasses it in beauty of violin tone and, inevitably, in quality of recording”
Or, over the top exuberant reviews in, let’s say, Classics today:
“Specifically, what the Gryphon Trio brings to these pieces is flow–that sense of effortless forward momentum that characterizes all of Mozart’s (and just about everyone else’s, come to think of it) best work. (10 out of 10)
And still remain virtually unknown…
Is it because these players are from Canada? Or is it they are represented on a small label rather than the glam and marketing budget of a major label? Anyway, I came across these recordings on Spotify and was hooked. This is one of the finest set of Mozart chamber works I have encountered in a while. Artur Schnabel once famously said, “Mozart piano sonatas are too easy for children and too difficult for adults”. Well, the same counts for many of these works and the “naturalness” of playing by the Gryphon’s suits the music so well…!
Hope you will be inspired by these performances too!
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Track 01- 03 Divertimento for Piano, Violin and Cello in B flat major, K 254 (1776)
Track 04- 12 Trio for Piano and Strings no 1 in G major, K 496 (1786)
Track 13- 15 Trio for Piano and Strings no 2 in B flat major, K 502 (1786)
Track 16- 18 Trio for Piano and Strings no 3 in E major, K 542 (1788)
Track 19- 21 Trio for Piano and Strings no 4 in C major, K 548 (1788)
Track 22- 30 Trio for Piano and Strings no 5 in G major, K 564 (1788)
Gryphon trio:
Annalee Patipata Nakoon, violin
Jamie Parker, piano
Roman Borys, cello
Recorded 2006.
