The Strad Issue: August 2026

Description: Modern-instrument readings come up fresh

Musicians: Parnassus Trio

Works: Mozart: Complete Piano Trios

Catalogue number: MDG10223982 (2 CDs)

Captured in 1990, these recordings by the Parnassus Trio’s original line-up soon earned for the ensemble international acclaim. Including accounts of the three unrelated fragments (finished by Maximilian Stadler and published together as K442) alongside imaginative performances of Mozart’s six completed piano trios, they stand up well against the competition from the 21st century.

Using modern instruments (although the restored 1901 Steinway D piano employed almost qualifies as ‘historical’), these performers are unanimous in matters of phrasing and timing and their neat, authoritative and convincingly paced accounts invigorate Mozart’s music. Sample, for instance, their readings of K254’s opening movement, K458 and K542’s central Andantes and their characterisation of the contrasting variations in K406’s finale.

The principal protagonist, pianist Chia Chou, thoroughly exploits the striking tonal depth and sonorous bass of the Steinway. His fleet fingerwork is also admirable throughout, especially in the concerto-like demands of K502 (incorrectly numbered in the booklet’s track list), K542 and K548. Violinist Wolf-Dieter Streicher interacts positively with Chou, whether accompanying, joining him in harmony or engaging in conversation, and cellist Michael Gross skilfully adjusts his role, switching from one of bass support in K254 through a more thematically significant one in K496’s Andante to one of virtual equality in the dialogue in K502.

These players understandably bypass expressive effects such as extempore ornamentation but fail to observe Mozart’s dynamic indications with total fidelity, not least because the piano is forward in the balance. Indeed, MDG’s quest to reproduce without modification the recording venue’s natural acoustics also results in the stringed instruments sounding somewhat constrained at times.

ROBIN STOWELL