Schumann
Fantasiestücke, Op.88
Mendelssohn
Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op.49
Joshua Bell (violin), Steven Isserlis (cello) & Dénes Várjon (piano)
Reviewed by: Ben Hogwood
Reviewed: 24 August, 2009
Venue: Cadogan Hall, London
Steven Isserlis mentioned that Schumann’s diaries give Mendelssohn’s First Piano Trio as a direct catalyst for the composition of his Fantastiestücke, poetic utterances that were here given vividly pictorial performances by Joshua Bell, Steven Isserlis and Dénes Várjon.
This starry trio of soloists came together as a tight-knit and sharing chamber ensemble, Várjon, in particular, remarkably sensitive in his use of dynamics and pedalling, so that throughout the Schumann every nuance was detectable. The second of the pieces, ‘Humoreske’, was a delight, the cheeky four-note motif passed round the instruments with evident enjoyment, and its middle section given a rustic feel. The sombre first and third pieces brought introspection.
In the stormy outer movements there was a terrific sense of drama, Isserlis introducing the main theme of the first movement with poise and restraint so that when the climactic points were reached, the textures could develop to something quasi-orchestral. The finale raced and there was remarkable definition in the interplay of melodies, Mendelssohn deceiving expectations with frequent shifts between major and minor keys.
As a generous encore the musicians played more Mendelssohn, a gently lyrical account of the slow movement from the ‘other’ Piano Trio (Opus 66).