In this episode of Radio Romantica, we explore Schubert’s works for piano trio.
The coming hour we will play Franz Schubert’s chamber music. We kick off the programme with “Notturno” for piano trio. Schubert initially wrote this work for domestic use only. Franz would play the grand piano, while one of his brothers played the violin and his father played the cello. However, the musical composition was stored away and forgotten, and only rediscovered in his belongings by music publisher Diabelli after his death. It turned out tot be a wonderful miniature, which might have been written as a slower part for piano trio Op. 100.
Next up is the piano trio ensemble, Op. 100. Schubert wrote this work for the engagement party of his good friend Josef von Spaun. Together they often played domestic chamber music. Schubert finished this work in November 1827. He has heard it in performance, but once the sheet music arrived, the composer had already passed away. The piano trio Op. 100 is a comprehensive and dramatic work. Listen to piano trio Op. 100 in E-flat major by Franz Schubert, performed by the Hamlet Piano Trio. The composition consists of four parts: Allegro, Andante con moto, Scherzando: Allegro moderato en Finale: Allegro moderato.
The encore to this programme with Schubert’s chamber music, is a short piece by Johannes Brahms. Hélène Grimaud plays the second Capriccio from Fantasien Op. 116.
- Franz Schubert: Adagio in E-flat major, Op.posth. 148, D. 897 “Notturno” / Hamlet PianoTrio (Candida Thompson, violin, Xenia Jankovic, cello and Paolo Giacometti, piano.)
- Franz Schubert: Piano Trio no. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 100, D. 929 / Hamlet Piano Trio (Candida Thompson, violin, Xenia Jankovic, cello and Paolo Giacometti, piano.)
- Johannes Brahms: Cappriccio from Fantasien Op. 116 / Hélène Grimaud, piano
