/ discography at a glance

Violinists and cellists have come and gone, but pianist Menahem Pressler still anchors the legendary Beaux Arts Trio, which made its first recording all of 50 years ago. Now British violinist Daniel Hope succeeds such wonderful players as Daniel Guilet, Isadore Cohen, Ani Kavafian and Dong-Suk Kang, while Brazilian cellist Antonio Meneses inherits the mantle of Bernard Greenhouse and Peter Wiley. In Dvorák's E minor trio, No 4, the “Dumsky“, and Mendelssohn's first in D minor, the new combination sound as lush and unified as ever, with Menahem's benign authority bringing the best out in his gifted young colleagues.

Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 1 and Dvorak's "Dumky" Piano Trio, with the Beaux Arts Trio (Warner). This release marks the 50th anniversary of the Beaux Arts Trio, the ensemble that first put the piano trio on par with the string quartet - even though you can make a case that historically the piano trio dates back further than the string quartet.

Of the original, only pianist Menachem Pressler, who at 82 still teaches at Indiana University, is still playing. New are violinist Daniel Hope and cellist Antonio Meneses.

Least I commit heresy, this group may be even better than the original members and then the classic "second shift" with violinist Isidore Cohen and cellist Bernard Greenhouse. Hope and Meneses have wonderful pitch, and the chemistry among the three, all capable of solo careers, is terrific - very subtle with the wise old pianist exercising the right restraint and balance with his prominent part.

This extremely listenable recording, which duplicates the original Beaux Arts' first recorded program, just keeps growing on you. It makes you eager to hear more from the new Beaux Arts, which is reportedly planning a Beethoven cycle, though many listeners might prefer more of this recital format that mixes composers and periods.

Anyway, this revival overcomes the odds, since many long-lived chamber groups decline rather than improve when the members change.

Jacob Stockinger

The great Beaux Arts Trio is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a new version of the first piece it ever recorded, Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 1. Miraculously, the group's original pianist, Menahem Pressler, is still his glorious self, playing with a nimble refinement that puts almost all other chamber-music pianists to shame.

This CD marks the debut of the trio's newest member, violinist Daniel Hope. As his terrific current recital disc, East Meets West, also proves, Mr. Hope has a big musical personality. His delicacy can equal Mr. Pressler's — just listen to the whispered pianissimos. Yet he can dig into peasant rhythms with earthy glee, as he does in the other work here, Dvorak's "Dumky" Trio.

Brazilian cellist Antonio Meneses makes a great match for his partners. As long as Mr. Pressler, now 81, continues on this level, the future of this musical institution looks good as ever.

Lawson Taitte