Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 1/1: Allegro
2. Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 1/1: Adagio cantabile
3. Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 1/1: Scherzo, Allegro assai
4. Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 1/1: Finale, Presto
5. Piano Trio in G major, Op. 1/2: Adagio - Allegro vivace
6. Piano Trio in G major, Op. 1/2: Largo con espressione
7. Piano Trio in G major, Op. 1/2: Scherzo, Allegro
8. Piano Trio in G major, Op. 1/2: Finale, Presto
9. Piano Trio in B flat major ('Allegretto'), WoO 39

Disc 2:

1. Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1/3: Allegro con brio
2. Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1/3: Andante cantabile con variazioni
3. Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1/3: Menuetto, Quasi Allegro
4. Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1/3: Finale, Prestissimo
5. Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 70/2: Poco sostenuto - Allegro ma non troppo
6. Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 70/2: Allegretto
7. Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 70/2: Allegretto ma non troppo
8. Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 70/2: Finale, Allegro
9. Piano Trio in E flat major ('14 Variations on an Original Theme'), Op. 44

Disc 3:

1. Piano Trio in B flat major ('Archduke'), Op. 97: Allegro moderato
2. Piano Trio in B flat major ('Archduke'), Op. 97: Scherzo, Allegro
3. Piano Trio in B flat major ('Archduke'), Op. 97: Andante cantabile
4. Piano Trio in B flat major ('Archduke'), Op. 97: Allegro moderato
5. Piano Trio in E flat major, WoO 38: Allegro moderato
6. Piano Trio in E flat major, WoO 38: Scherzo, Allegro ma non troppo
7. Piano Trio in E flat major, WoO 38: Rondo, Allegretto
8. Piano Trio in G major ('Kakadu Variations'), Op. 121a

Disc 4:

1. Trio for piano, clarinet (or violin) & cello in E flat major (arr. of septet, Op. 20), Op. 38: Adagio. Allegro con brio
2. Trio for piano, clarinet (or violin) & cello in E flat major (arr. of septet, Op. 20), Op. 38: Adagio cantabile
3. Trio for piano, clarinet (or violin) & cello in E flat major (arr. of septet, Op. 20), Op. 38: Tempo di menuetto
4. Trio for piano, clarinet (or violin) & cello in E flat major (arr. of septet, Op. 20), Op. 38: Andante con variazioni
5. Trio for piano, clarinet (or violin) & cello in E flat major (arr. of septet, Op. 20), Op. 38: Scherzo (Allegro molto e vivace)
6. Trio for piano, clarinet (or violin) & cello in E flat major (arr. of septet, Op. 20), Op. 38: Andante con moto alla marcia. Presto
7. Piano Trio in D major ('Ghost'), Op. 70/1: Allegro vivace e con brio
8. Piano Trio in D major ('Ghost'), Op. 70/1: Largo assai e espressivo
9. Piano Trio in D major ('Ghost'), Op. 70/1: Presto

Disc 5:

1. Piano Trio in D major (transcription of Symphony No. 2 by composer), Op. 36: Adagio. Allegro con brio
2. Piano Trio in D major (transcription of Symphony No. 2 by composer), Op. 36: Larghetto quasi andante
3. Piano Trio in D major (transcription of Symphony No. 2 by composer), Op. 36: Scherzo
4. Piano Trio in D major (transcription of Symphony No. 2 by composer), Op. 36: Allegro molto
5. Piano Trio in E flat major ('Allegretto'), Hess 48
6. Trio for clarinet (or violin), cello & piano No. 4 in B flat major ('Gassenhauer'), Op. 11: Allegro con brio
7. Trio for clarinet (or violin), cello & piano No. 4 in B flat major ('Gassenhauer'), Op. 11: Adagio
8. Trio for clarinet (or violin), cello & piano No. 4 in B flat major ('Gassenhauer'), Op. 11: Tema: Pria ch'io l'impegno, Allegretto

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51272 in Music
• Brand: Philips
• Released on: 2001-10-09
• Number of discs: 5
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .35 pounds

Customer Reviews

The Definitive Recordings Of Beethoven's Piano Trios
This is a newly released [budget] set containing the Beaux Arts Trio's second traversal of all of Beethoven's piano trios, plus some interesting oddities such as the trio based on Beethoven's Second Symphony. I recently acquired this 5 CD collection and am quite impressed by the warm, vibrant playing from the Beaux Arts Trio: pianist Menachem Pressler, cellist Bernard Greenhouse and violinist Isidore Cohen. Although some critics contend that the Beaux Arts Trio's 1960's version is more riveting than their late 1970's/early 1980's version, I find the latter quite compelling on its own. The playing is absolutely first rate, replete with much warmth and empathy for Beethoven's scores. The sound quality is also fine, even if it doesn't feature Philips' latest digital image bit remastering.

Another Beaux Arts Trio masterpiece
In their 50th year now, The Beaux Arts Trio has achieved legendary status for their crisp, elegant, and polished playing and adherence to the spirit of the music. Pianist Menahem Pressler (the last remaining original member) finesefully drives the music forward with his deft and articulate keyboard work that is always marvelously alive and bouyant. His style has an attractive lyrical quality to it which blends marvously with the two strings whose playing is of the highest caliber. It doesn't seem the Beaux Arts Trio recorded many "duds" as far as I can tell, and this excellent 5-CD set is no exception. And while their classy playing might project a slightly more refined than dramatic Beethoven here, such a style is well suited to the classical-era style of these earlier works prior to 1805 and Beethoven's slow-but-sure departure from classical forms and mannerisms.

Part of this more 'classical Beethoven' found in most of the trios here is partly because of the genre. The piano trio genre was not the place Beethoven experimented or "went all out" - as he did in his symphonies, quartets and piano sonatas - but more a genre he wrote to sell music (although the empassioned C-minor trio of Opus 1 seems more written for Beethoven's own expression). In the late 1700's, the piano trio was a popular combination for the home music market for many a Vieneese amatuer. Also, it was common and in demand for composers and publishers to transpose popular orchestral works down to the piano trio (such as the two in this set) for this market of paying customers. What was also a trend then was including the themes of the latest "pop music" people were humming around town in theme & variation movements, which is seen here in some of the trios in this 5-CD set.

The quality of music Beethoven wrote in the trios is very good and highly enjoyable to listen to. Surprizingly, some of Beethoven's finest piano trios are found in his Opus 1 set - the very first compositions Beethoven found worthy of publication. These were written in his early 20's and already show the musical skills and depth of a fully-mature composer. Highlights of these recordings are the attractive and musically-rich Opus 1 set mentioned, the magnificant opus 70 two trios, and the noble, heroic-period "Archduke Trio" - perhaps the most famous of them all. The Beaux Arts Trio not only brings out the power and drama of the fast movements quite well (a stunning C-minor Op.1 no. 3), but especially conveys a most attractive lyrical quality in the slow movements with great beauty and sensitivity, such as in the haughtingly attractive Largo of the famous "Ghost" trio, (Op. 70 no. 2).

This is a really high quality and distinguished set of recordings packaged nicely in a super-slim box for easy storage and offered at an attractive price. Bottom line is they play this music superbly. Another Beaux Arts Trio set that is equally staturesque and warmly recommended is their 9-CD set of Haydn's Piano Trios (Philips). Compositions - 5 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Sound quality - 4 stars.

Caution On This Set
The piano is not balanced with the violin and cello, it drowns them out. The violin at times is quite muted and the cello is often indistinct. Listen to the samples critically before buying. I found the same problem on another Philips set of Haydn Piano Trios.