In their length and four-movement architecture, Beethoven’s Opus 1 Piano Trios almost resemble symphonies. As Douglas Johnson wrote, “he was getting experience in the symphonic style without taking any of the risks — in particular, the risk of direct comparison with Haydn.”
In the third of Beethoven’s Opus 1 Piano Trios, Beethoven’s voice became more individualistic. The work maintains a high intensity through all three fast movements, featuring a more adventurous use of the violin and cello. The piece only calms down for a variation-based Andante.
#Beethoven250 Day 43
Piano Trio No. 3 in C Minor (Opus 1, No. 3), 1794–95
Trio Le Beau: Spanish pianist Susana Gómez Vázquez (@susanagvmusic), German cellist Jakob Kuchenbuch, German-Latvian violinist Christa-Maria Stangorra
How revolutionary was Beethoven’s Piano Trio No. 3? Haydn didn’t think Beethoven should have published it! Haydn didn’t believe the public would understand or accept this new work!
Or was Haydn already witnessing how the future of music would leave him in the dust?