The idea of having a seasoned piano trio record this most equable of Beethoven concertos dates back to the days of analogue tape‚ most memorably with a handsome CBS Philadelphia recording by the Stern­Rose­Istomin Trio under Eugene Ormandy. Years later the Beaux Arts Trio with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra under Kurt Masur offered a mellower digital option‚ and now along comes the 14­year­old Wanderer Trio in happy collaboration with the Gürzenich orchestra‚ a bright‚ well­paced and unmannered reading that perfectly reflects the Concerto’s lively‚ contented spirit. James Conlon directs a buoyant accompaniment‚ always considerate to his solo team and especially sensitive in the brief but exquisite largo. If you want to check out the effectiveness of the teamwork‚ beam up the beginning of the finale‚ where – within 35 seconds or so – the pianist gently embellishes an idea first heard a few seconds earlier on the orchestra. It’s typical of a performance that’s effective on virtually every musical front‚ and the realistic recording ideally mirrors the performers’ excellent judgement. The Egmont incidental music works almost as well‚ save perhaps that the Overture is a little lacking in drama. Anja Harteros is appropriately spirited in ‘Die Trommel gerühret’ (though I wish Universal would reissue Hermann Scherchen’s wonderful Westminster recording with Magda László) and the various Entractes (nine separate movements in addition to the Overture) are poised and very well played. I’d suggest sampling Entracte No 2‚ the most extended piece in the suite. Again‚ the sound is first­rate.