Beethoven: The Piano Trios, Vol. 2 Busch Trio

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): Piano Trio in G Major, Op. 1 No. 2:
• 1 Beethoven: Piano Trio in G Major, Op. 1 No. 2: I. Adagio - Allegro vivace 12:11
• 2 Beethoven: Piano Trio in G Major, Op. 1 No. 2: II. Largo con espressione 10:23
• 3 Beethoven: Piano Trio in G Major, Op. 1 No. 2: III. Scherzo. Allegro 03:12
• 4 Beethoven: Piano Trio in G Major, Op. 1 No. 2: IV. Finale. Presto 08:08
• Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, WoO 38:
• 5 Beethoven: Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, WoO 38: I. Allegro moderato 04:54
• 6 Beethoven: Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, WoO 38: II. Scherzo. Allegro ma non troppo - Trio 04:48
• 7 Beethoven: Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, WoO 38: III. Rondo. Allegretto 05:21
• Allegretto in E-Flat Major, Hess 48:
• 8 Beethoven: Allegretto in E-Flat Major, Hess 48 03:46
• Allegretto in B-Flat Major, WoO 39:
• 9 Beethoven: Allegretto in B-Flat Major, WoO 39 06:53
• Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44:
• 10 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Thema. Andante 00:40
• 11 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. I 00:36
• 12 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. II 00:42
• 13 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. III 00:41
• 14 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. IV 00:50
• 15 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. V 00:35
• 16 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. VI 00:33
• 17 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. VII. Largo 01:23
• 18 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. VIII. Un poco adagio 00:46
• 19 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. IX. Tempo primo 00:31
• 20 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. X 00:33
• 21 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. XI 00:36
• 22 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. XII 00:39
• 23 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. XIII. Adagio 01:26
• 24 Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44: Var. XIV. Allegro - Andante - Presto 02:41
• Total Runtime 01:12:48

Info for Beethoven: The Piano Trios, Vol. 2

For this second volume of their complete Beethoven piano trios, the Busch Trio illustrates the great variety that the composer was able to draw from an ensemble of just three instruments. The Trio in G Major, begun in 1793, is the second of three published in Vienna as Opus 1. The Trio in E Flat, WoO 38 was written in 1790-1791 in Bonn: it is unusual in that it has three movements in the same key and no slow movement. The charming Allegretto in E Flat was written by a young Beethoven experimenting. The Allegretto in B Flat, WoO 39, takes us back to 1812, the era of the famous ‘Archduke Trio’. Finally, the Variations in E Flat Major, Op. 44, are a series of variations on arias from a little-known opera by Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf. ‘When practising, rehearsing and performing Beethoven's works, it is impossible not to be overcome by the joy, courage, the love for life and humanity’ conclude the musicians of the Busch Trio.

Busch Trio

Busch Trio
Named after the legendary violinist Adolf Busch, this young piano trio has emerged as one of the leading piano trios among the new generation, receiving enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics across the UK and Europe. Winners of the 2012 Royal Overseas League Competition, the trio went on to win several prizes including 2nd prize at the 2012 Salieri-Zinetti International Chamber Music Competition and the 3rd prize at the 2013 Pinerolo International Chamber Music Competition in Italy as well as the 2nd prize at the International Schumann Chamber Music Award in Frankfurt.

Since its formation in 2012 highlights of the Trio’s performances in the UK have included the Wigmore Hall, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Sage Gateshead, and they have also given concerts in the Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium and Denmark. Their recent Wigmore Hall appearance was received to critical acclaim, The Times commenting: “…what impressed most was the group’s effortless musicianship and unity of thought and attack. The threesome even seemed to be breathing in synch.” Recent and forthcoming seasons include a tour of China, collaborations with Michael Collins and Bruno Giuranna, and recitals in the Wigmore Hall, King’s Place, Brussels’s Bozar and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. They are frequent visitors to BBC Radio 3 InTune programme and have been broadcasted live on Belgium’s Musiq’3.

As three soloists in their own right, Omri Epstein “the group’s marvellously sensitive pianist”, Mathieu van Bellen, whose “silvery gleam darted eloquently”, and Ori Epstein, with whom “you felt in the grip of a warm hug”, have all won prizes in solo international competitions. Brought together by a shared deep passion for chamber music and inspired by Mathieu’s possession of the “ex-Adolf Busch” J.B. Guadagnini violin (Turin, 1783), they have been recognized for their achievements and their playing with “incredible verve”. The trio enjoyed the support of the Tunnell Trust, the Kirckman Concert Society, the Park Lane Group and the Cavatina Chamber Music Trust, as well as being awarded the MMSF Philharmonia Orchestra Ensemble Award. Most recently they have completed the prestigious ChamberStudio Mentorship Programme, which has offered them teaching from some of the world’s leading musicians. They are currently receiving guidance from members of the Artemis Quartet at the Queen Elizabeth Music Chapel in Brussels.

In 2015 French record label Alpha Classics, engaged the trio to record the complete chamber works for Piano and Strings by A. Dvorák. The 4 CD project will see the trio collaborate with violist Miguel da Silva and will be released over the next 3 years.

Booklet for Beethoven: The Piano Trios, Vol. 2