Beethoven Trio Op. 1, No. 3 in C Minor, Allegro con Brio

[gvans]

L. van Beethoven wrote dozens of works before settling on a series of three piano trios as his Opus 1. At a private premiere for Prince Carl Lichnowsky, Haydn, after hearing all three, thought this four-movement trio too dramatic, too serious, and too complex for the public. As the story goes, he suggested Louis withhold the piece from publication. Of course, the composer did not, and it proved the most successful of the three.

Unlike the trios Haydn or Mozart wrote, all three instruments are given complex roles. The piano part, meant to showcase Beethoven's pianistic skills, is virtuosic.

This is the first movement, played at a free concert in La Jolla. The piano is a Yamaha C-6.

[j_menz]

I'll wager that Beethoven didn't have to put up with that wailing kid at the private premiere.

Nicely played. This has always been my pick of the three Trios of Op 1.

[rachfan]

Hi gvans,

This is a wonderful rendition of this very early trio--masterful playing by all.  It also shows Beethoven as a promising young composer with many great things yet to come.  Congratulations to the trio!

David

[gvans]

Thanks for the encouraging words, mates. Actually, we had about 30 children in the crowd. The little tyke made a ruckus, true, but we played for free at an open-door library, had 100+ listeners, and felt happy to feed the wee mites a bit of classical music.

Good for 'em, like spinach!