piano trios

[sof]

Hi all,

I know this isn't in the realm of piano solo rep, but I'm just curious regarding opinions on several trios.

I am to pick one to play in the fall, and quite frankly I've never played any and haven't heard many. Here's a list, opinions (AND recommendations for other trios not on the list) would  be greatly appreciated.

I want to know mainly if any of these trios are in the "standard" rep, and their relative dififculty, and in your opinion if they are "nice" pieces.

    * Franck, César - Piano Trio

    * Chopin, Frederic - Piano Trio Op.8 (I didn't know Chopin wrote a piano trio)

    * Rachmaninoff, Sergei - Trio Elégiaque No.1 in G minor
    * Rachmaninoff, Sergei - Trio Elégiaque No.2 in D minor
(which one of these is performed more often? or considered a "major" work?)

    * Saint-Saëns, Camille - Piano Trio No.1

    * Schubert, Franz - Trio No. 1 for Piano, Violin and Cello, Op. 99, D. 898
    * Schubert, Franz - Trio No. 2 for Piano, Violin and Cello, Op. 100, D. 929
(same question for Rach trios)

    * Sibelius, Jean - Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello

    * Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich - Piano Trio Op.50

    * Ravel piano trio

Also, since nobody can shun Beethoven trios in the trio world, does anyone have any suggestions as to which trio is a "better sounding" one? (my trio group dislike Beethoven trios)

Thanks a million!

[mephisto]

The one by Tchaikovsky is one of the standards an is liked by alot of people, just like much og Tchaikovsky's music.

[kriskicksass]

The Chopin Piano Trio is very rarely played. I kind of like it, but I don't know if it'd be worth it to spend time learning it. That's up to you.

The Second Rachmaninoff Trio is a posthumous work. The first is much more known and performed.

I love all the Beethoven Trios. My favorites are Op. 1 No. 3 in C minor (wonderful virtuoso piece for the pianist, not hard for the strings) and Op. 70 No. 2 in E-flat Major (just plain beautiful, hard for all three players).

Sorry I can't help with the others.

[mikey6]

The Tchaik is regarded as the hardest thing he wrote for piano and the Ravel is arguably the hardest in the rep for all 3 instruments! So prolly, not good starters.
The Schubert are both long (~40 mins), it's Schubert so generally hard.  I don't know the Franck, but he's gernerally very awkward for the piano.
Depending on your standard, you could try the Mendelssohn dmin, Schumann dmin, a Beethoven - maybe op.1 no.3, Smetana is great but difficult.  Shosta may be good if you have a cellist you can paly harmonics.

[Kassaa]

Franck is fun but the second+third movement are bloody damn hard. Also after some time you just don't want to play Franck anymore, it just starts to bore.. . It is a really effective trio though, audience loves it.

[invictious]

Tchaikovsky, obviously
Watch your cellist die.

I played it once, as a cellist.
My arm fell off.
Poor me.

[Kassaa]

Tchaikovsky, obviously
Watch your cellist die.

I played it once, as a cellist.
My arm fell off.
Poor me.

It's kinda sheeyaat for the pianist too .

[sof]

HAHA, thanks all!