“Dawn of a New Age”‍

This first concert in our Mini Festival highlights what a dramatic departure Beethoven’s interpretation of the piano trio was from any of his predecessors. His first, full-fledged piano trio (Op. 1, No. 1) was composed in 1795, when the Viennese master Franz Joseph Haydn was still alive. While strongly influenced by Haydn’s own trios, we begin to hear some of the younger composer’s unique aesthetic. We’ll contrast this with two of Beethoven’s later trios (Op. 70) from 1808-09 that are Beethoven’s fully mature and distinctive voice, including his hauntingly beautiful “Ghost” Trio.

Program

BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 1, No. 1
BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1 (“Ghost”)
BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 70, No. 2

Chien-Kim-Watkins Piano Trio: Gloria Chien, piano; Soovin Kim, violin; Paul Watkins, cello