Daniel Barenboim, Michael Barenboim & Kian Soltani - Beethoven: Piano Trios / 3CD set

An offspring of the Baroque trio sonata, the piano trio—usually denoting a work for piano, violin, and cello—was still in its infancy when Beethoven penned his first essay in the genre around 1791. Although he declined to assign an opus number to the early Trio in E-flat major (which would be published posthumously in 1830), the composer reportedly considered it “one of his worthiest experiments in the art of composition.”

Daniel Barenboim founded his trio with his son Michael Barenboim and the cellist Kian Soltani in 2016. The ensemble made its debut that same year at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and in the 2017–18 season first performed Beethoven’s complete piano trios at the Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, combined with contemporary works. In the same hall, the Daniel Barenboim Trio recorded these two concerts performing the seven piano trios, just right before the Covid-19 pandemic in December 2019.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 1/1

I. Allegro
II. Adagio cantabile
III. Scherzo. Allegro assai
IV. Finale. Presto

Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1/3

I. Allegro con brio
II. Andante cantabile con variazioni
III. Menuetto. Quasi allegro
IV. Finale. Prestissimo

Piano Trio in G major, Op. 1/2

I. Adagio – Allegro vivace
II. Largo con espressione
III. Scherzo. Allegro
IV. Finale. Presto

Piano Trio in D major, Op. 70/1 “Ghost”

I. Allegro vivace e con brio
II. Largo assai ed espressivo
III. Presto

Daniel Barenboim, Piano
Michael Barenboim, Violin
Kian Soltani, Cello