Beethoven: Piano Trio, Op. 70 No. 1 and Op. 97, ‘The Ghost’; Piano Trio No. 7 in B flat Major, Op. 97 ‘Archduke’, Jeno Jando, piano, Takako Nishizaki, violin, Czaba Onczay, cello – Naxos 8.550442 (65 minutes).
Ludwig van Beethoven’s so-called ‘Ghost’ Trio, Op. 70 No. 1 in D was the first of a pair of such works composed in 1808 and dedicated to Countess Marie von Erdody, in whose house Beethoven was living.
Following a quarrel over a servant, Beethoven moved to other lodgings and eventually dedicated the work to Archduke Rudolph, his royal pupil and patron. Beethoven played the trio at a musical evening at the countess’s home in December 1808 and those present described the work as forceful and original, with many bold strokes.
The nickname comes from the eerie second movement, music of great suspense and innovation.
Beethoven sketched the ideas for his so-called ‘Archduke’ Trio (in B Flat, Op. 97) in 1810 and wrote the piece at breakneck speed between March 3 and 26 of the following year.
Dedicated to his beloved Rudolph, who later was elevated to the Archbishopric of Olomuc, the work was premiered on April 11, 1814, when, because of his total deafness, the composer’s days as a pianist were coming to a sad end.
The trio is overflowing with brilliant tunes and ideas, and is considered the apex of Beethoven’s achievements in the genre. A feature of the work is the relatively low range of the violin part and the mainly high tessitura of the cello.
Although the soloists do not form part of a regular performing trio, all three are on sizzling form, and both performances bubble with that Beethovenian spirit that is so uplifting and joyous.
The finely balanced sound, which is so vital in the recording of chamber music, is an added plus. Robust at times, but often highly attractive and intimate.
Tchaikovsky: Suites for Orchestra: No. 3 in G, Op. 55 and No. 4 in G, Op. 61 (Mozartiana), National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland conducted by Stefan Sanderling – Naxos 8.550728 (68 minutes).
Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) belonged to that privileged group of Russian composers who had received professional musical training at the newly established St Petersburg Conservatoire.
At first he was earmarked for a career at the Justice Ministry, but this idea was abandoned, and he soon turned to his one and only love: music.
Diffident and ambivalent, he was a frequent victim of an acute nervous depression, and a disastrous marriage contracted in 1877 drove him to near suicide.
Striving to hide his homosexuality, which was abhorred in Russian society of the time, also contributed to his insecurity and desperation.
On the bright side we find the financial support of Nadezhda von Meck, a rich widow who was simply mad about his music.
They never met, but her great help enabled the composer to devote all of his time to creating new works.
There is also a profuse correspondence which reveals the nature of their relationship, but also leaves many unanswered questions.
The melodies he wrote are so heart-wrenchingly beautiful that attempting to describe them would be a waste of time. They hit you in the spirit and penetrate to the very depths of your soul.
The two suites on this disc date from 1884 and 1887 respectively when Tchaikovsky was having serious doubts about his abilities.
The Third, in particular, gave him all sorts of anxieties, but the finished product, with its fresh and vibrant themes, belies all of the composer’s struggles. First performed in January 1885 in St Petersburg, it was an instant success.
The Fourth is an impassioned homage to Mozart, whom Tchaikovsky regarded as a god, and is a genuine attempt to introduce the master’s music to a wider public.
Sanderling and his Irish forces are warm and lyrical in their approach, and all of Tchaikovsky’s alluring melodic genius is sumptuously conveyed.
Notes are adequate, but sound quality is fine indeed.
A highly attractive disc, full of vibrantly inspiring music which I wholeheartedly recommend.
Haydn: Piano Sonatas Nos. 17, 19 and 28 and six other piano works, Jeno Jando, piano – Naxos 8.553826 (61 minutes).
Born in the village of Rohran in Austria in 1732, Franz Joseph Haydn was the most famous composer of his age. By the time of his death in 1809 his career had spanned more than 60 years and hundreds of compositions in all genres.
His 104 symphonies are considered the benchmark of the classical era, but he also has groundbreaking works in the chamber and instrumental fields, not to mention his sacred music, which includes 14 Masses and three oratorios.
This disc is the ninth volume of the Naxos cycle featuring the complete piano sonatas and other miscellaneous pieces that the composer wrote throughout his most productive lifetime.
The three sonatas on the programme date from Haydn’s middle period of the 1760s, although No. 17 is conjecturally dated to 1755.
All the pieces reflect the precise and linear style that was so popular during the second half of the 18th century, by which time public tastes started to evolve, and music started to become more dramatic and emotional.
The album also contains six other miniatures, of which the Arietta con due Variazioni in A is the most substantial.
The Hungarian pianist Jeno Jando is a foremost exponent of the composer’s keyboard output, and his interpretations are consistently alive and enthralling.
Indeed, in his hands, Haydn’s technique is revealed in all its mastery and melodic invention.
The accompanying essay is also highly informative.
A delightful CD that should appeal mostly to piano enthusiasts.
These CDs were made available for review by D’Amato Record Shop of 98/99, St John Street, Valletta.