Trio Parnassus - Gade: Complete Piano Trios (2011)

Although he ran in the same tight circles as Schumann and Mendelssohn, and even collaborated with Mendelssohn as conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra and instructor at the Leipzig Conservatory, Niels Gade's name was largely forgotten by the end of the 19th century. After his time in Leipzig, he returned to his native Copenhagen and established a conservatory of his own, making him a leading figure in the musical development of his country. Gade's compositions were varied and numerous. This MDG Gold album features the Trio Parnassus -- an ensemble that has made it an objective to unearth forgotten or neglected works -- performing Gade's complete works for piano trio. Gade is credited with having a true Scandinavian sound, but the influence of Mendelssohn cannot be overstated. This is particularly evident in the mercurial scherzo of Op. 29 and the playfully, memorable melodies. His trios may not be on the order of importance as Mendelssohn's two beloved examples, but Gade's contributions are certainly worthy of attention. Trio Parnassus, having revived many works already, is an ensemble ideally suited for the task. The playing is consistently clean, vibrant, and enthusiastic. Intonation is polished, phrasing is confident, and tempos are upbeat. Balance between the three musicians (and with the added viola for the C sharp minor scherzo movement from a planned piano quartet) is carefully thought out, organically allowing the primary melodic instruments to rise to the top without obscuring the active inner voices.