Smetana Trio - Complete Piano Trios - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

When Beethoven assigned the opus number one to his three piano trios, it was evident that the then 22-year-old composer would explore, advance and co-create the composition rules, and that he would very nearly transcend that which was comprehensible to his contemporaries. Upon hearing the first private performance of Op. 1, Joseph Haydn purportedly voiced his doubts as to whether the ordinary listener would be able to understand No. 3. Beethoven experimented with this combination of instruments too - with the form, harmonies and other facets. The Piano Trio in D major, Op. 70 No. 1 may have had it's roots in sketches for an opera based on Shakespeare's drama MacBeth that Beethoven was contemplating at the time. The spectral music of the slow movement, featuring strange modulations and said to be a reworking of the Witches Chorus intended for the opera, earned the piece the nickname InchGhost TrioInch. In the InchArchduke TrioInch, Op. 97, Beethoven emancipated all the instruments, providing each equal scope to apply their technical qualities and possibilities of expression. It's first performance, in April 1814, was the penultimate public concert Beethoven, at the time almost deaf, gave as a pianist. The 250th anniversary of one of the greatest composers of all time was an irresistible impulse for the Smetana Trio. Their new addition to the Beethoven discography possesses all the parameters of the ensemble's previous, highly acclaimed recordings and will undoubtedly cause quite a stir- Beethoven's chamber music through the lens of the Smetana Trio. Album Tracks 1. Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1 No. 3~I. Allegro con brio 2. Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1 No. 3~II. Andante cantabile con variazioni 3. Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1 No. 3~III. Menuetto. Quasi Allegro - Trio 4. Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1 No. 3~IV. Finale. Prestissimo 5. Piano Trio in B flat major

Album Tracks 1. Piano Trio No. 3 in F minor, B. 130 (Op. 65) (Once Listed As Op. 64) I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo 2. Piano Trio No. 3 in F minor, B. 130 (Op. 65) (Once Listed As Op. 64) II. Allegretto Grazioso 3. Piano Trio No. 3 in F minor, B. 130 (Op. 65) (Once Listed As Op. 64) III. Poco Adagio 4. Piano Trio No. 3 in F minor, B. 130 (Op. 65) (Once Listed As Op. 64) IV. Finale. Allegro Con Brio 5. Piano Trio No. 1 in B Flat Major, B. 51 (Op. 21) I. Allegro Molto 6. Piano Trio No. 1 in B Flat Major, B. 51 (Op. 21) II. Adagio Molto E Mesto 7. Piano Trio No. 1 in B Flat Major, B. 51 (Op. 21) III. Allegretto Scherzando 8. Piano Trio No. 1 in B Flat Major, B. 51 (Op. 21) IV. Finale. Allegro Vivace 1. Piano Trio No. 2 in G minor, B. 56 (Op. 26) I. Allegro Moderato 2. Piano Trio No. 2 in G minor, B. 56 (Op. 26) II. Largo 3. Piano Trio No. 2 in G minor, B. 56 (Op. 26) III. Scherzo. Presto 4. Piano Trio No. 2 in G minor, B. 56 (Op. 26) IV. Finale. Allegro Non Tanto 5. Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor ('Dumky'), B. 166 (Op. 90) I. Lento Maestoso 6. Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor ('Dumky'), B. 166 (Op. 90) II. Poco Adagio 7. Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor ('Dumky'), B. 166 (Op. 90) III. Andante 8. Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor ('Dumky'), B. 166 (Op. 90) IV. Andante Moderato (Quasi Tempo Di Marcia) 9. Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor ('Dumky'), B. 166 (Op. 90) V. Allegro 10. Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor ('Dumky'), B. 166 (Op. 90) VI. Lento Maestoso

Album Tracks 1. Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49 1. Molto Allegro Ed Agitato 2. Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49 2. Andante Con Moto Tranquillo 3. Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49 3. Scherzo. Leggiero E Vivace 4. Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49 4. Finale Allegro Assai Appassionato 5. Piano Trio No. 2 in E Flat Major, D. 929 (Op. 100) 1. Allegro 6. Piano Trio No. 2 in E Flat Major, D. 929 (Op. 100) 2. Andante Con Moto 7. Piano Trio No. 2 in E Flat Major, D. 929 (Op. 100) 3. Scherzo. Allegro Moderato 8. Piano Trio No. 2 in E Flat Major, D. 929 (Op. 100) 4. Allegro Moderato