Beethoven’s Triple Concerto is his take on the old 18th Century Sinfonia Concertante. Dating from 1803/4 it is from the particularly productive period that saw the appearance of the ‘Eroica’ Symphony, the ‘Waldstein’ and ‘Appassionata’ piano sonatas, and the preliminary sketches for ‘Fidelio’ (at that time called ‘Leonore’).  Originally intended as a piece for his pupil Archduke Rudolph, Beethoven made the piano part simpler than the piano concertos, and the work is unique in the history of the Sinfonia Concertante in that it includes a piano.

The three instruments have such different tone production and Beethoven’s genius is apparent: not only are the three soloists pitted against the orchestra, but they also play off against each other, functioning as a true piano trio. Beethoven’s last published piano trio is the set of variations from 1813 on a popular theme by Wenzel Müller, ‘Ich bin der Scheider Kakadu’. Beethoven’s invention, as so often in his variations, is brilliant.

Jan Václav Voříšek was a younger contemporary of Beethoven and was a practising lawyer. He settled in Vienna, met Beethoven and studied with Hummel, which greatly improved his piano playing, but he failed to obtain employment as a musician. He produced a masterful symphony in D, and the delightful and elegant Rondo Concertante on this album. He was friends with Schubert and sadly, like Schubert, died tragically young.

The Lobkowicz Trio are Jan Mráček, violin and leader of the Czech Philharmonic, Lukas Klansky, piano and Ivan Vokac, associate principal cellist of the Czech Philharmonic.