I am familiar with the Beaux Arts and the Stern,Istomin,Rose recordings. I think all three of these sets are great.I don't think you can go wrong with any of the three recordings. The balance between the three instuments in this recording is the best of the three. I am glad these three great musicians could play together in such beautiful ensemble. The price of the CDs is incredibly cheap. Please buy both volumes.

Almost everything Beethoven ever wrote is outrageously popular. One exception may be these early piano trios - not because they are any the less masterpieces than his others, but because they for some reason get less play than his later works. This 2-CD set is all the argument necessary that these works should get more recognition than they do. They are miniature masterpieces in their own right. it is obvious from the beginning that they were all produced by a genius. the talent of Beethoven is immediately obvious.

Moreover, they are presented in a manner befitting their greatness. The trio of Ashkenazy, Perlman and Harrell leave no stone unturned in their presentation. They blend with each other as if Beethoven had them in mind when he developed the pieces. I haven't heard all of the recordings of these trios available, but I stand convinced that this set must be among the best - if not THE best. The performers complement each other perfectly!

This set of discs is a must buy at any price, but at EMI's budget price you would be crazy not to leap at it! The highest recommendation. A+++++

I have treasured these marvellous recordings since their release in the early-to-mid 1980s and my deepest affection for them has not diminished a jot in over 20 years.

But lately, I've asked myself the question, "WHY are these performances so far superior to any other recordings of Beethoven's incredibly beautiful and sublime Piano Trios?"

I have listened with patience to many other recordings over the years - those by the Beaux Arts Trio, the Florestan Trio, the Barenboim-Zukerman-Du Pré ensemble, and the Borodin Trio leap immediately to mind - but I have always returned to the Ashkenazy-Perlman-Harrell recordings as if returning from a long journey not worth the trouble and definitely NOT in the same league as HOME.

At first I thought the answer lay in some deep philosophical or musicological argument that must surely accompany performances of this calibre.

No, learned ponderings and cavernous psychological conclusions aside, the answer was much simpler than that! It's simply this (and aren't the answers to all the great questions in life so elegantly simple?), there is just the most incredible JOY in the music-making that you just can't help but fall in love with these performances. Virtuosity is one thing, but JOY is something more precious than all the gold and gems in King Solomon's palace!

No other recordings - and possibly no other recordings of Beethoven's music! - will enchant and beguile you as these will. A huge and possibly hasty statement to make, but then maybe you have not heard such music as the angels will sing eternally in heaven?

These performances will show you glimpses of a vast and everlasting paradise!

These are, then, my absolute top recommendations - bar none - for Beethoven's Piano Trios and, having purchased them with confidence, they should go on joyfully enriching your musical life for many, many years to come.

Ashkenazy, Perlman and Harrell, are brilliant! I have never heard musicians play together so well, as though they all share the same mind. They are so musically sensitive and every note is perfectly executed. The music is captivating and beautiful, I never get sick of it. They capture the spirit of beethoven wonderfully. It is very inspiring to listen to these musicians perform some tricky repertoire. Hats off to all of them!

I bought both volumes 1 and 2 and find them to be of the highest quality. I used to hear these artists perform quite often in the 1970's and therefore tend to buy and trust their musicianship to be consistently good. I am not disappointed in their playing, the quality of the recording and love the Piano Trios by Beethoven. If you love Beethoven and do not know these pieces you will enjoy listening to them in the intimacy of your home. A good collection to have among your other Beethoven favorites.

This budget-priced 2-CD set from EMI is a selection from the spectacular "Gemini" series. However, beyond the price, there is nothing "budget" about this collection. This first volume features virtuosi Perlman, Ashkenazy and Harrell and their performance together is superb. The presentation of the album (artwork, liner notes, etc.) is also excellent and reaffirms my conviction that paying a few dollars extra for the actual album is worth it. As a classical musician and music enthusiast, I could not ask for more and thus highly recommend this album.

Unfortunately there are only a handful of the Beethoven Complete Piano Trios on disc. Of those, these are by far the finest. I've purchased the set by Baremboim-Zukerman-DuPre several years ago, but found their performances to be a bit dry,conservative and uninvolved in the music.
The Beaux Art Trio's renditions are classics, but inconsistent. The Askenazy-Perlman-Harrell set are not only virtuostic performances by three of the greatest classical artists of their generation, but there is an incredible chemistry between each of them which the key to ensemble playing. Recorded in the 80s, the recording sound is warm and genuine, but dynamic as well. Highly recommeded!!

I am attempting to consolidate my CD collection of classical music by obtaining collections, especially of chamber music, and particularly piano trios. This collection of Beethoven's piano trios more than met my expections; it is wonderful music and bueatifully played.