George Gershwin; Maurice Ravel; Paul Schoenfield - Piano Trios (Eroica Trio)

Information

Composer: George Gershwin; Maurice Ravel; Paul Schoenfield

• Gershwin - Three Preludes (arr. Penaforte)
• Ravel - Piano Trio
• Godard - Berceuse (Jocelyn)
• Schoenfield - Cafe Music

Eroica Trio

    Adela Peña, violin

    Sara Sant'Ambrosio, cello

    Erika Nickrenz, piano

Date: 1997

Label: EMI

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Review

The wisdom of crowds can do a belly flop sometimes, and it's happened here with the lead review, which has incited a pile-up of negative votes against the Eroica Trio's debut album. I hope prospective buyers won't be misled. This is a beautifully played program caught in perfect sound. The program is winning and at times playful. EMI's PR approach was aimed at finding a younger audience for chamber music, clearly. With three pretty young graduates of Juilliard to publicize, they struck a blow against the shriveled prune image that emanates fro, say, the Beaux Arts Trio.

The Eroica Trio doesn't just look young; they play young. The fluffy arrangement of Gershwin's Three Preludes actually swings, and throughout there's an air of energy and exuberance. The group was founded in 1991, six years before their debut album was released, and they had won the prestigious Naumburg Award. Almost everything I've heard from them rises to a very high level of musicianship. I especially admire the pianist, Eriak Nickrenz. the best piano trios are led by a pianist with a strong personality, and she has one, particularly in their excellent CD of the first two Brahms piano trios - I'd rank it among the two or three best I've ever heard.

Personal taste can't be argued against, but the two-star review's complaints are pure fantasy. The ERoica play slow music as well as they play fast music. The main item here, the Ravel Trio, is flawless. The Jazzy Cafe Music by Paul Schoenfield, an expert at tongue-in-cheek, brings a smile. If anything on this album is less than first-rate, I can't hear it.

— Huntley Dent

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The Grammy-nominated Eroica Trio is internationally acclaimed for its virtuosity, expressivity and artistry. Winner of the prestigious Naumburg Award, the Trio has performed extensively across the globe and with leading orchestras. Their critically praised recordings for Angel/EMI Classics have earned multiple Grammy nominations and significant commercial success. As the first all-female chamber ensemble to achieve top-tier international prominence, the Eroica Trio has broken longstanding barriers while inspiring new generations of musicians through innovative programming and passionate performances.

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