Composer: Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performer: Swiss Piano Trio
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Audite
Catalogue: AUDITE92673
Release: 2012
Size: 221 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50
I. Pezzo elegiaco
01. Adagio con duolo e ben sostenuto – Moderato assai – Allegro giusto
II A. Tema con variazioni
02. Tema: Andante con moto
03. Variazione 1. Swiss Piano Trio
04. Variazione 2: Piu mosso
05. Variazione 3: Allegro moderato
06. Variazione 4: L’istesso tempo
07. Variazione 5: L’istesso tempo
08. Variazione 6: Tempo di Valse
09. Variazione 7: Allegro moderato
10. Variazione 8: Fuga. Allegro moderato
11. Variazione 9: Andante flebile, ma non tanto
12. Variazione 10: Tempo di Mazurka
13. Variazione 11: Moderato
II B. Variazione Finale e Coda
14. Allegro risoluto e con fuoco – Andante con moto – Lugubre
In March 1881 Tchaikovsky received the news of the death of his friend Nikolai Rubinstein whilst he was in Paris – a great blow for the composer who had been engaged to teach at the newly founded Moscow Conservatory, thanks to Rubinstein. Tchaikovsky decided to dedicate a piece of music to his late friend – not a classical work for choir or orchestra but one for piano trio. The memory of Rubinstein evidently enraptured him to the extent that he burst all dimensions with his Trio Op. 50. Two monumental movements make up a memorial work which, however, also has optimistic moments. Following an “Elegiac piece” is a set of variations with a duration of nearly 30 minutes which comprises a slow movement, scherzo and finale, all under the roof of a simple Russian theme. Technically, this trio presents a challenge to every piano trio.
The Swiss Piano Trio has won numerous prizes at international competitions, including the International Chamber Music Competition Caltanissetta in Italy and the Johannes Brahms Competition in Austria. Founded in 1998, the ensemble has a busy performing schedule and has played in over 40 countries on all continents.