Negative Positive
Title: PETER ILYICH MUST BE SMOULDERING IN HIS GRAVE
Review: One thing for sure: It's lucky Tchaikovsky isn't alive to hear this absolutely horrendous "performance" of his beloved Op. 50 Piano Trio. It would have killed him right off. Nearly did me! Never have I heard such torturous ensemble playing. You would think these three stellar artists were in separate rooms--- playing solo--- and wearing headphones. Ashkenazy has a field day blazing and banging away at the piano; Perlman swoops and swoons until it's next to impossible to tolerate; Harrell swoons and swoops until it's next to impossible to tolerate, as well. The distortion these three make out of the opening Pezzo elegiaco (which runs some eighteen minutes plus) is bewildering. The ensuing Theme and Variations is tedious, misdirected and bombastic. What ever happened to grace, charm, warmth, tenderness? This CD is a quick reminder that not all superstars, whether solo or ensemble, make superstar recordings.[Running time: 48:41]
Is the review positive or negative? 