Skip to content

Astonishing accuracy

Bachtrack, Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres

Three is the magic number. The animated and dynamic Gould Piano Trio took to the stage and delighted the audience with three piano trios by Beethoven. The concert was the second of an exciting quartet of concerts, ‘The Beethoven Trios Series’, which are part of the Gould Piano Trio’s 20th Anniversary Year celebrations. Lucy Gould has commented that she hoped to keep their performances ‘alive and invigorating’, and this evening certainly was.

“All three musicians, Lucy Gould (violin), Alice Neary (cello) and Benjamin Frith (piano), took the character given to their respective instruments and acted out each musical part on the stage. This was not only a concert for the listeners: it reminded the audience how classical music can be brought to life in a live performance.”

Commencing the concert, the Piano Trio in E flat, WoO 38 (c. 1791) delighted the audience with interplay between the instruments, and was a light-hearted start to the concert. Each of the movements were executed with impressive expression and, despite each movement being in the same key (E flat), the character of the music came across in the performance and there was never a dull moment. The Gould Trio captured the peaks and troughs of this work concisely and could be seen to enjoy playing it whilst still keeping a firm grasp on the audience. The middle movement of this piece was unexpectedly a fast ‘scherzo’, as opposed to a slow movement, which kept momentum of the piece.

The Piano Trio in C minor, Op.1 no.3 was written by Beethoven in 1795, only a few years after WoO 38, but provided a good contrast in the programme… we had the privilege of hearing this wonderfully strong work performed so well.

“The mood of the piece was reflected in the Gould Trio’s faces as they brought the piece to life, capturing every nuance of the separate movements.”

The fire and drama within the other movements was nicely contrasted within the slow second movement (Andante cantabile), in which a solemn theme and its set of variations provided momentary respite. However, the Prestissimo finale blew the audience away with a skilful performance of astonishing accuracy.

The Piano Trio in E flat, Op. 70 no. 2 (1808)… was performed with a huge amount of imagination and musical integrity. The Gould Trio were met with enthusiastic applause from the congregation in St George’s. This was well-deserved praise for an enjoyable evening of Beethoven’s Trios.


The Concert:

Gould Piano Trio
St George’s, Bristol
7th December 2011

Beethoven Piano Trio no. 8 in E flat major, WoO 38
Beethoven Piano Trio no. 3 in C minor, op.1 no.3
Beethoven Piano Trio no. 6 in E flat major, op.70 no.2

You may also like to see...
Sheer delight … played with such love

Charles Hutch Press, Martin Dreyer

A premiere performance of commitment and flair

Musical Opinion, Paul Conway

A lovely late morning recital … grace and charm

BachTrack, Mark Pullinger

Commitment and excellence

Ilkey Concert Club, Chris Skidmore

Vivid dynamic contrasts … majestic … spellbinding

The Strad, Tim Homfray

Intense, nourishing playing … mysterious and tremendous … blazing conviction

The Telegraph, Ivan Hewett

Immaculate attention to detail of articulation … warm, silken sound

BBC Music Magazine, Natasha Loges

Spontaneous, unforced and imaginative

The Strad, Robin Stowell

Unanimity of approach … faultless performances

Gramophone, David Threasher

Chamber music heaven … the perfect lockdown tonic

The Times, Geoff Brown

Clarity and balance

Gramophone, Richard Whitehouse

A welcome release … the excellence of the Gould’s playing

Gramophone, Richard Whitehouse

These performances make for a very enjoyable CD

Lark Reviews, Stephen Page

Lyrical beauty, burning brio and an awesome degree of ensemble spirit

BBC Music Magazine, Geoff Brown

Brilliant throughout
Drama and refinement

Gramophone, Tim Ashley

Unshowy sparkle

Financial Times, Richard Fairman

Intensely expressive

The Strad, Andrew Farach-Colton

Fire and expressive power

The Guardian, Rian Evans

A ravishing performance by the Goulds

The Guardian, Rian Evans
Four Stars

Ebullience and verve

The Strad, Edward Bhesania

Wonderful performances

Music Web International, Stuart Sillitoe

Fine blending between all members

Bachtrack, Philip May
Four Stars

Confident, precise ensemble playing

Gramophone, Duncan Druce

Deep sensitivity

The Guardian, Rian Evans
Four Stars

Consistent musicality and enthusiasm

The Sir Arnold Bax Website, Christopher Webber and Graham Parlett

A wealth of expressive detail

The Guardian, Rian Evans

Understated virtuosity and startling clarity

Washington Post, Robert Battey

Superb performances

The Guardian, Andrew Clements

Unsurpassably played

Yorkshire Live, Val Javin

Nimble, agile and intense

The Guardian, Fiona Maddocks

Played with a delicate touch

BBC Music Magazine, Misha Donat
Four Stars

Telepathic connection

Bachtrack, Emily Owen
Four Stars

Revelatory interpretations

The Guardian, Stephen Prichard

Profoundly musical

The Guardian, Rian Evans
Five Stars

Freshness, panache, charm

BBC Music Magazine, Erik Levi
Five Stars

Excellent performances

BBC Music Magazine, Calum MacDonald
Five Stars

Music-making of the highest calibre

The Guardian, Rian Evans
Four Stars

The performances here are very sympathetic

Classics Today, David Hurwitz

Uncommonly powerful and disturbing

The Independent, Anna Picard

Back To Top
08/02/2025