REGER String
Trios: No. 1, op. 77b; No. 2, op. 141b. Piano Quartet No. 2, op. 133
Trio Lirico;
Detlev Eisinger (pn)
AUDITE 97.714 (83:31)
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New classical music releases reviewed in detail by Gavin Dixon
Wednesday, 28 March 2018
Reger String Trios Trio Lirico
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These three works all bring out Reger’s Mozartian sensibilities. The textures
are clear and the movements are well structured and well proportioned. Yet
there is little sense of Neoclassical restraint here: The music is passionate
and often intense. The op. 77b String Trio dates from 1904, during Reger’s
Munich years, his most progressive and experimental phase. But writing for just
three instruments brought a clarity and focus to his music that was often
lacking in his larger projects of the time. The op. 141b String Trio and the
op. 133 Piano Quartet date from 1915 and 1914 respectively, towards the end of
Reger’s short life, when he had retreated to Jena and resolved to write music
to his own taste, rather than compete with the fashions of the day. So there is
directness and simplicity here too, along with a good helping of the
sophisticated harmony and intricate counterpoint that we find in almost all his
music.
The German ensemble Trio Lirico do an outstanding job here, giving
performances that are light and buoyant, with beautiful clarity of texture and
finely gauged balance between the instruments. Focused articulation helps to
propel the lines, and the viola and cello in particular often display a woody,
tactile attack, while the overall tone is suitably balanced between transparency
and richness. Pianist Detlev Eisinger fits perfectly into the ensemble to the
Piano Quartet. In all three performances, the string players indulge in some
sweeping rubato gestures in the transitions—ideal for this music—and Eisinger
seems to goad them even further, into daringly broad and opulent phrasing. The
gamble always pays off.
As with most of Reger’s chamber music, the competition
for these three works is select but strong. And, as usual, the benchmark is the
MDG series from the 1990s. The string trios there, from the Mannheimer String
Quartet (MDG Gold 336 0711 and 336 0722) are weightier in tone and recorded in
a warmer and more ambient setting; easier on the ear where these are more confrontational.
Interpretively, they are similarly well executed and conveyed, so the two
versions deserve joint top billing. But don’t miss the excellent version from
the Vogl Trio on Gramola (98943). Thir approach is lighter and more conversational
in the counterpoint, lacking a little in drama but still impressive.
The MDG version of the Piano Quartet, again with the Mannheimer String
Quartet, with pianist Claudius Tanski (336 0714) has a compelling sense of
urgency in the first movement which Trio Lirico seem to lack, at least by
comparison. But the audio quality on the new version is superior, so again it’s
a tie for top place. The other versions available are not competitive: The
Fanny Mendelssohn String Quartet (Troubadour 1415) is rushed, while the Aperto
Piano Quartet (Naxos 8.570786) lacks focus and engagement, and neither version
comes close to this or the MDG for audio quality.
Generous running time and an unusually well translated booklet round out
an attractive package. Just one complaint: The Audite label used to champion
SACD. Their new approach seems to be to issue standard CDs, but with a
high-resolution, surround-sound download equivalent. I’m sorry to have missed
out on that, but it could potentially elevate this joint first into a clear
winner.
This review appears in Fanfare magazine, issue 41:6.
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