Album: Schumann, Piano Trios – Gringolts / Laul / Kouzov (Onyx)

Ilya Gringolts continues his survey of Schumann's chamber music, following a poised account of the Violin Sonatas with a taut reading of the Piano Trios.

Cellist Dmitry Kouzov joins Gringolts and his pianist Peter Laul, his slightly acidic tone an interesting foil to Gringolts' honeyed sound. The balance is unusually even-handed, leading to sensory overload in the dense melodic effusion of the third Trio. Though some tempi are cautious, this is stylish and thoughtful musicianship.