Trio Wanderer - "Art Nouveau" album - CD Review, May 27th, 2026

Édouard Lalo - Piano Trio No. 3 in A minor, Op. 26; Claude Debussy - Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor

Premiere album, released on January 30th

"Art Nouveau" is the title of this double album, which explores chamber music from the French repertoire composed around the year 1900. From the passionate lyricism of Edouard Lalo's music to the refinement scores by Maurice Ravel, the poetic spirit of composer Mel Bonis, the freshness and the Impressionist character of works by Claude Debussy, each piece on this album reveals different facets of the Art Nouveau era, blending iconic French repertoire with lesser-known works - sonatas and piano trios.

The works were recorded in July 2025, at the Grande Salle de l'Arsenal in Mets, by the members of the Wanderer ensemble, one of France's most distinguished piano trios, comprising violinist Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian, cellist Raphaël Pidoux and pianist Vinicent Coq. All are graduates of the Paris Conservatory, winners of prestigious international competitions and professors at higher music education institutions in France.

Trio Wanderer boasts a prolific career spanning nearly four decades and is renowned for the passion with which it approaches the Romantic repertoire. The ensemble possesses an impressive discography, which includes especially works from the 19^th century, but also, pieces from the modern era. The group won in 1988 the ARD International Music Competition in Munich and two years later by the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in the United States. They have performed on prestigious stages across Europe, Asia and the Americas and have collaborated with artists such as Yehudi Menuhin, Ion Marin, Charles Dutoit and Louis Langrée. And the substantial recording projects of the ensemble have been rewarded with Victoires de la Musique Classique, Gramophone, Fanfare, Midem and Choc du Monde de la Musique awards. Their latest album, Art Nouveau, has already been honored with a Diapason d'Or award.

From this double album, released on January 30th by the Harmonia Mundi label, I have selected the Piano Trio No. 3 in A minor, Op. 26, composed in 1879 by Edouard Lalo. The effervescent instrumental dialogues of the first movement, Allegro appassionato, the ostinato rhythms and harmonic tensions of the second movement, Presto, the meditative character of the slow movement - contrasting with the final Allegro molto movement, which is exuberant and varied in its rhythms and tonal colors - are all brought to the fore through a compelling performance by the Trio Wanderer. From the same album, I also recommend the Sonata in G minor for violin and piano, written by Claude Debussy in 1917 - the final major work by this Impressionist composer. The piece was premiered in May of that same year, featuring Gaston Poulet on violin and Claude Debussy on piano, marking the composer's final public appearance. Allegro vivo, Intermède, and Finale: Très animé are the three movements of this score, which is performed admirably by the Trio Wanderer.