Dip Your Ears, No. 151 (A Trio of Austrian Trios)
  K.Goldmark, H.Gál, A.Zemlinsky, Piano Trios, T.A.Irnberger, E.Sinaiski, A.K.Cernitori Gramola SACD      |
We’re at the beginning of a greatly desirable Hans Gál renaissance, and so it was that composer’s piano trio that drew me to this recording from Vienna’s enterprising Gramola label. Bending and twisting with summery delight, the Trio makes no bones about Schubert and Bahms as its musical idols: radical in 1949! Zemlinksy’s Opus Three (with Violin instead of Clarinet) is of darkly Brahmsian beauty, but the real bonbon is Karl Goldmark’s contribution, an ear-worm in-waiting. It’s a Trio that sounds upon third time hearing as if you’ve known it all your life—or should have. The performances are searing.
