ALEXANDER GOLDENWEISER (1875-1961): Piano Trio in E Minor, Op. 31, SERGEI RACHMANINOV (1872-1943): Trio élégiaque in D Minor, Op. 9 (w/Kang-Un Kim [harmonium]), PETER TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893): Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 50.

Description: Don’t yell at me!; I don’t do the programming. Goldenweiser’s 1950 trio is in memory of Rachmaninov whose trio is in memory of Tchaikovsky whose trio is in memory of Nikolai Rubinstein so there’s eminent reason to the coupling. If you know the Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov trios (and who doesn’t by now?), the best way to characterize Goldenweiser’s is by saying that it is wistful and melancholy where the others are tragic and grief-stricken. Still utterly late Romantic in style and Goldenweiser uses the identical form as Rachmaninov: big moderato first movement, a theme-and-variations slow one and a shortish, moderate tempo finale. At 32:46, it’s not small but it’s by far the smallest of these three. And, by the way, how often is the theme of the Rachmaninov's second movement presented by a harmonium on recordings? 2 CDs. Michael Schäfer (piano), Ilona Then-Bergh (violin), Wen-Sinn Yang (cello).