I have enjoyed and admired the two piano trios by Franz Schubert for many many years. Not just because of Schubert’s great skill in crafting melody, but also because his second movements are so filled with the pathos, sadness, and tragedy that filled Schubert’s life.
We have an opportunity to listen to the following:
Schubert:
Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat major, D898
Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major, D929
Notturno in E flat major for piano trio, D897 (Op. post.148)
As performed by Andreas Staier (fortepiano Christopher Clarke (1996) after Conrad Graf, Vienna 1827), Daniel Sepec (violin Lorenzo Storioni, Cremona 1780), and Roel Dieltiens (cello Marten Cornelissen (1992) after Stradivarius)
“One glance at Schubert’s trio, and the miserable hustle and bustle of human existence vanishes, the world takes on fresh lustre”, wrote Robert Schumann in 1836 of Schubert’s Piano Trio D898. He was equally admiring of the Schubert’s other great trio, D929, notably its funeral march-like Andante con moto.
And the three interpreters on this CD bring out every nuance of these endlessly fascinating works on their ‘period instruments’, including a splendid copy of an 1827 Viennese fortepiano.
Here are Janine Jansen and friends performing the trio in B-Flat by Franz Schubert. And a wonderful performance it is…
