Firma Melodiya presents a recording of Ravel’s piano trio performed by Oleg Kagan, Natalia Gutman and Sviatoslav Richter.

Ravel created his trio for piano, violin and cello in the summer months of 1914 in a Basque village (the composer’s mother was Basque), which is reflected in the themes of the first movement. The trio is notable for its virtuosic and technical freedom as regards each of the instruments. Thanks to that, Ravel achieves truly orchestra effects. This peculiarity sets an especially complicated task for the performers.

The Kagan-Gutman-Richter line-up was formed in the 1970s and became one of the brightest phenomena of music performing art of this country. The three outstanding musicians performed in concert in Moscow and overseas, took part in the December Evenings Festival at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and made recordings on a number of occasions.

The unique artistic personality of each of the soloists did not prevent them from creating an amazing ensemble, with clear sound, an integral performing style and profound implementation of the concepts. Their recordings are still a benchmark for musicians of the next generations.

This recording of Ravel’s trio was made at a live concert in the Big Hall of the Moscow Conservatory in 1983.

Limited Edition.