Release Date: 07 January 2005
Label: Naxos - Nxc / Naxos Classics
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 747313272327
Genres: Classical
Composer/Series: BEETHOVEN
Description
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)Piano Trios, Volume 1Born in Bonn in 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven was theeldest son of a singer in the musical establishment of theArchbishop-Elector of Cologne and grandson of theArchbishop's former Kapellmeister, whose name hetook. The household was not a happy one. Beethoven'sfather became increasingly inadequate both as a singerand as a father and husband, with his wife always readyto draw invidious comparisons between him and his ownfather. Beethoven, however, was trained as a musician,however erratically, and duly entered the service of theArchbishop, serving as an organist and as a string-playerin the archiepiscopal orchestra. He was already winningsome distinction in Bonn, when, in 1787, he was firstsent to Vienna, to study with Mozart. The illness of hismother forced an early return from this venture and hersubsequent death left him with responsibility for hisyounger brothers, in view of his father's domestic andprofessional failures. In 1792 Beethoven was sent oncemore to Vienna, now to study with Haydn, whom he hadmet in Bonn.Beethoven's early career in Vienna was helped veryconsiderably by the circumstances of his move there.The Archbishop was a son of the Empress MariaTheresa and there were introductions to leadingmembers of society in the imperial capital. HereBeethoven was able to establish an early position forhimself as a pianist of remarkable ability, coupled witha clear genius in the necessarily related arts ofimprovisation and composition. The onset of deafness atthe turn of the century seemed an irony of Fate. It ledBeethoven gradually away from a career as a virtuosoperformer and into an area of composition where he wasable to make remarkable changes and extensions ofexisting practice. Deafness tended to accentuate hiseccentricities and paranoia, which became extreme astime went on. At the same time it allowed him todevelop his gifts for counterpoint. He continued torevolutionise forms inherited from his predecessors,notably Haydn and Mozart, expanding these almost tobursting-point, and introducing innovation afterinnovation as he grew older. He died in 1827, his deaththe occasion of public mourning in Vienna.The first three piano trios, which form Beethoven'sOpus 1, were published in 1795 and dedicated to PrinceCarl Lichnowsky, who had welcomed the composer intohis house in Vienna and offered continuing support.These were followed in 1808 by a set of two piano trios,dedicated to Countess Marie von Erdody, in whosehouse Beethoven had taken up residence in that year. In1809 he initiated a quarrel with the Countess over thematter of a servant, secretly bribed by her, it seemed, tostay with his master. Although Beethoven later wrote anapology, he moved to other lodgings. At the same timehe attempted to change the dedication of these two Opus70 Piano Trios, naming instead Archduke Rudolph, hisroyal pupil and patron, on the excuse that the latter hadshown a particular fondness for the works, but theo
Tracklisting
Dariia Lytvishko
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop
Alice Di Piazza; Basel Sinfonietta; NDR Bigband; Titus Engel
Anna Alas i Jove; Miquel Villalba
David Childs; Black Dyke Band; Nicholas Childs
Glen Wilson
Gabriel Schwabe/Hellen Weiss
Fritz Kreisler
