Complete Works for Piano Trio Vol. 5: Triple Concerto & Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 38 after the Septet

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[Triple Concerto] From the very opening in the low strings there is immediately a magical feeling about this performance. It should go without saying that each of the soloists plays with absolute... — Fanfare, September/October 2020 More…

Release Date: 22nd May 2020
Catalogue No: CC72801
Label: Challenge Classics
Length: 73 minutes

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Beethoven: Triple Concerto for Piano, Violin, and Cello in C major, Op. 56

Work length34:31

Album only

Van Baerle Trio
Residentie Orkest The Hague
Jan Willem de Vriend

I. Allegro

Track length17:13

Album only

II. Largo

Track length4:06

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

III. Rondo alla Polacca

Track length13:12

$2.00

$2.80

$3.50

Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 8 in E flat major, WoO 38

Work length38:39

$8.00

$11.20

$13.90

Van Baerle Trio

I. Adagio – Allegro con brio

Track length9:40

$1.50

$2.10

$2.60

II. Adagio cantabile

Track length7:31

$1.50

$2.10

$2.60

III. Tempo di Menuetto

Track length3:30

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

IV. Andante con Variazioni

Track length7:07

$1.50

$2.10

$2.60

V. Scherzo. Allegro molto e vivace

Track length3:48

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

VI. Andante con moto alla Marcia – Presto

Track length7:03

$1.50

$2.10

$2.60

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The fifth and final installment of the much acclaimed Beethoven series by the Van Baerle Trio. Two "non-piano-trio" pieces are included: the original arrangement of the Septet and the Triple Concerto.

In 1799, after having made a name for himself with major compositions in the genres of the piano trio, piano sonata, violin sonata, and string quartet, but before finishing his first symphony, Beethoven wrote a work for mixed strings and winds. This piece, the Septet op. 20, would become one of his most popular compositions, with a large number of arrangements, including the one for piano trio on this disc. The form is clearly related to the divertimenti by Mozart, with six movements that alternate fast and slow tempos.

The appearance of the Triple Concerto on the final disc in this series might surprise some listeners, as it is the only work with orchestra, but this composition has more in common with chamber music than with concertos. It was written in 1805, and its instrumentation is highly exceptional if not unprecedented altogether.

In tone, it is rather a stark contrast from Beethoven's other concertos, which generally contain easily recognisable melodies and strikingly rhythmic material, neither of which are found to a great degree here. Furthermore, the opposition of soloist and orchestra, a central aspect of many solo works with orchestra written up until that point that was the engine behind much of the drama, is also absent, with the orchestra taking a largely subservient role to the three soloists. So, although the work was called a 'Grand Concerto Concertant' when it was published, it really has very little in common with other works with a similar title.

The question is whether this piece is a concerto at all, or whether it could be more fruitfully played and judged as a different kind of experimental piece in a more collaborative genre. This disc takes the latter approach, and by contextualising it in a series of piano trios, it presents this work as Beethoven's most richly instrumented chamber music.

Reviews

September/October 2020

[Triple Concerto] From the very opening in the low strings there is immediately a magical feeling about this performance. It should go without saying that each of the soloists plays with absolute technical mastery, but it is their intimate knowledge of each other’s playing, sound, and musical intelligence that makes this recording so special. Tempos throughout are absolutely perfect, and the piece is so superbly paced, the thrilling conclusion comes as absolutely no surprise.

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Complete Works for Piano Trio Vol. 5

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