Press
Opening with Mieczysław Weinberg’s 1945 Piano Trio, the threesome waste no time in showing what they’re made of… Weinberg’s Trio has had some fine recordings recently, most notably by Gidon Kremer and friends (DG, 1/20 – and see page 55), but Trio Zimbalist are equally compelling, and perhaps even preferable… And in the hammering second-movement Toccata, all three players’ rhythmic precision and taut ensemble create a sense of ruthless, implacable savagery.
Lera Auerbach’s First Trio (1996) is not so far removed from Weinberg’s ruefully expressive sound world, and here again Trio Zimbalist provide an emotionally immersive experience… Trio Zimbalist are able to carry the music’s considerable weight of immense sadness with admirable poise, and they tear through the Presto finale like proverbial bats out of hell.
With a Czech violinist, Dvořák seems a natural choice, and although the Dumky Trio has been recorded umpteen times, Trio Zimbalist’s reading sounds miraculously fresh. This is partly because they keep the music flowing ever forwards, even if it’s done oh-so-gently. It’s also due to their imaginative phrasing – this is immediately apparent in the opening section – and their appreciation of Dvořák’s inventive textures…
… An astonishingly accomplished debut…
-Andrew Farach-Colton
With impeccable preparation and dedication to the manic heights and somber lows of these works, the trio’s time and efforts are justly rewarded. This first studio outing…is merely the beginning for this group, and an exhilarating beginning it is.
-Richard Blumenthal
The three players [of Trio Zimbalist] captured [the work’s] passion and originality, all the way through to the desolate conclusion, causing the packed hall to burst into cheers and applause.
-Bruce Hodges