Andreas Staier / Daniel Sepec / Roel Dieltiens FRANZ SCHUBERT Piano Trios Op. 99 & 100

This is a period-instrument recording of Franz Schubert's pair of piano trios, separated by the lovely Nocturne in E flat major, D. 897. Some surprises result from the period-instrument treatment. There are some extra pedals on Andreas Staier's fortepiano, a copy of an 1827 Graf instrument: sample the third movement of the Piano Trio in E flat, Op. 100, in its central section, to hear some of the extras (most strikingly the "Janissary" pedal). The period violin of Daniel Sepec and the cello of Roel Dieltiens, however, are close to the sound of the modern versions, and for the most part even the fortepiano shows the clean sounds that were to come. The most important capacity of the fortepiano that Staier exploits is its potential for fluent speed: it can carry out rapid passagework at a moderate volume level, staying involved in the ensemble and not jumping out as a solo instrument. This allows the players to take unusually quick tempi, prioritizing overall design over individual melodies. The big outer movements of the usually gloomily lyrical E flat trio may seem rushed to some, but the parts fit together like some kind of inexorable clockwork, and the interpretation is both technically remarkable and totally fresh. With excellent Teldex studio sound that brings out the unusual fortepiano effects, this is a novel Schubert reading that's well worth your time. (James Manheim)