There are nine available versions of Debussy's early and embarrassingly immature Trio including this new one – which says something for the appeal of this piece, first published in 1986. However, it takes some putting over, for the four movements are too similar in their sugary legato utterance and the first is disproportionately long. This performance by the Joachim Trio is more spacious than some, and the scherzo-intermezzo second movement goes too slowly for my taste, but the playing is pleasingly affectionate and the recording clear yet atmospheric.
Unlike the Debussy, Ravel's Trio is a masterpiece and a work of passion as well as gentler poetry. Here is another sensitive performance that emphasizes the more restrained aspects of the music, but the power is there, too. Other ensembles may be tauter, notably in the first movement, but I like the way these artists flex tone and tempo: you feel that they have considered every detail afresh, and to advantage. I found myself surprisingly moved, yet again, by this lovely music that I know so well.
At a mere three minutes, Florent Schmitt's Tres lent is a mere pendant to the Debussy and Ravel, and it is a pity that this interesting little piece is not better documented in the otherwise useful booklet-essay. But I will not complain, for this finely played and recorded new disc from Naxos is worth every penny of its super-bargain price. R1 '9508055'