Leonidas Kavakos, Antoine Tamestit, Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax: Beethoven for Three, vol.5

The Strad Issue: November 2026

Description: Three become four in this latest Beethoven instalment

Musicians: Leonidas Kavakos (violin) Antoine Tamestit (viola) Yo-Yo Ma (cello) Emanuel Ax (piano)

Works: Beethoven: Symphony no.3 ‘Eroica’; Leonore Overture no.3 (arr. Shai Wosner)

Catalogue number: SONY CLASSICAL 199584795324

Antoine Tamestit makes his debut with the three ever-presents for the fifth volume of this project. It’s inspired by precedents attributed to the composer’s friend and pupil Ferdinand Ries, presenting Beethoven’s most iconic symphonies in intimate chamber arrangements. This is the first of the series not to be coupled with one of Beethoven’s piano trios. Arranger Shai Wosner has facilitated the reproduction of Beethoven’s orchestral textures, stylistic flamboyance and dynamic nuances with surprising fidelity, although I crave the restless syncopations of the ‘Eroica’s’ opening movement and the variety of instrumental timbres provided by a full orchestral complement – the absence of genuine horn colours in the Trio of the ‘Eroica’s’ Scherzo is particularly noticeable; but the trumpet signals of Leonore no.3 appear to have been contributed by a genuine, yet unidentified trumpeter.

These performances are technically commendable, perceptive and intensely alive. Although the players fail to capture the full gravitas of the symphony’s Marcia funèbre, somewhat too flowingly rendered, their adept, clearly articulated interaction in the outer movements reveals fine details often obscured in an orchestral setting, particularly in the finale’s fugal section.

Dynamics and other expressive indications are faithfully rendered – the Marcia funèbre sotto voce ending is especially effective – but repeats are somewhat randomly omitted in the first movement and Scherzo. The booklet is unhelpful, but the spacious recording has immediacy and clarity.

ROBIN STOWELL