Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony was written in 1803 and published in 1806; he insisted that versions for piano and for string quintet also be published. However in 1807 when the chamber version appeared, it was a piano quartet. It is not known whether Beethoven prepared this himself but as an anonymous piece it is quite groundbreaking, unique and like nothing written before. In its own right it is a masterful chamber work.

Importantly, this is NOT the arrangement by Ferdinand Ries published 50 years later, though there are some similarities. This early work is to our mind far superior and this is the World Premiere recording.

Skaerved and Shorr have presented the previous 5 volumes in this series to acclaim, and are joined by Kreutzer Quartet cellist Neil Heyde and the American Dov Scheindlin: an ‘extraordinary violist’ (New York Times)