Aurèle Nicolet, Nobuko Imai, Naoko Yoshino - Toward the Sea III (1994)

For lovers of the flute, viola and harp trio, this is the essential collection. It starts at the beginning, with Debussy’s 1915 Sonata, in a rich, refined account by the distinguished performers. Nicolet and Imai have the stage to themselves in Denisov’s Duo, their cool dialogues contrasting with the pastoral trios of Honegger’s Petite suite and gossamer textures of Britten’s Lachrymae. Two recent Takemitsu scores are further landmarks in the development of this distinctly 20th-century instrumental medium. Nicholas Williams