Piano Trios.

 

Beethoven:

  • Piano Trios (complete)

Performed by the Trio Elegiaque

Beethoven found that the Piano Trio offered him the perfect vehicle for the development of his compositional techniques, and for the exploration of instrumental brilliance and virtuosity.

The first two trios, given the designation “Opus 1” are very much in the style of Haydn.

Beethoven begins his transformation of the trio by giving stronger prominence to the cello, and by giving greater individuality to each of the three instruments.

The Piano Trio Op.1 Number 3 foretells – almost ten years in advance – the ultimate emergence of the composer’s ‘middle period’.

Beethoven reached new heights of drama in the ‘Ghost’ Trio, while in the ‘Archduke’ Trio he displayed the sheer symphonic power with which we now associate him.

These works are performed here by Trio Élégiaque, an ensemble made up of three multi‐award‐winning performers: Laurent Le Flécher, Virginie Constant and François Dumont.

The young French Trio Elegiaque has already received great critical acclaim for their recording of Messiaen and Dusapin. They played the Beethoven trio cycle several times in concert series, and their performances show us their insight, enthusiasm, and ensemble technique.

Here are some highlights from this album:

 

 

And next, you can hear the group perform the works of Arensky and Rachmaninov:

 

 

Tags: Trio Elegiaque, Beethoven, Laurent Le Flécher, Virginie Constant, François Dumont