Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 11 in G major, Op. 121a 'Kakadu'

Dedicated to his friend and pupil Archduke Rudolf, Beethoven’s expansive Archduke Trio is his greatest work in the genre, though increasing deafness meant it also signalled his final appearances as a performer. The cheerful Piano Trio in E flat major is an earlier work, though only discovered amongst the composer’s papers after his death, and the Kakadu Variations is another good humoured work based on a popular song of the day. With the American Record Guide “impressed with every recording”, Volumes 1 (8557723), 2 (8557724), 3 (8570255) and 4 (8570943) are also available.

The Xyrion Trio’s cycle of Beethoven’s Piano Trios and other chamber works has already established a firm following and wide critical acclaim, with volume 3 (8570255) described as “every bit as exceptional as the first volume (8557723)” by American Record Guide, and volume 4 (8570943) as “an unqualified success” (Fanfare). This volume forms a climax for the whole series, including as it does Beethoven’s masterpiece of the genre, the Archduke Trio.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s trios for violin, cello and piano constitute a cycle of works which – like his symphonies, sonatas and string quartets – span the entire course of his life. In these works, the composer touched upon all musical styles, from triumphant gesture to introverted emotion. The Haydn Trio Eisenstadt has long since proved that it belongs to the small group of first class trio formations. The musicians are equally comfortable with the Romantic and Classical repertoire and with works from the 20th century. They regularly work on new projects together with contemporary composers. For its fifteenth anniversary (the ensemble was founded in 1992), the musicians of the Haydn Trio Eisenstadt performed and simultaneously recorded a Beethoven cycle in the context of their annual concert programmes in Eisenstadt.