After many concert performances, the Belgian Trio Portici decided to record Rachmaninov's two rarely recorded Elegiac Trios. Not yet twenty when he composed the first, this one movement work with twelve successive episodes has the structure of a classical sonata despite its musical form. In the second, the style is more personal, the writing more daring and elaborated. The somber nostalgic atmosphere, leaning towards the tragic and, even now and then brightened up by a magic melody, is the same in both works. In the same nostalgic vein, the recording is completed with an elegy for piano solo.

''These are early and emotional works, called Elegiac trios. Trio 1 is a single movement in sonata form, composed when Rachnaninoff was not yet 20. It's very beautiful and ambitious. It was dedicated to Tchaikovsky and takes inspiration from his trio, especially the massive set of variations in II. Both works are performed very well. This group shows impressive color and expressive range in the variations, each a different tempo and character. This release is a fascinating look at Rachmaninoff's early style. Also included is a fine performance of the 'Elegy' for piano, composed between the two trios.'' American Record Guide