Beethoven Triple Concerto

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Beethoven's Triple Concerto doesn't generally get a particularly good press. Consequently, I too ignored it for many years, but since moving to Devon, and becoming part of a piano trio, we've been working on it, as the cellist was keen to add this to our repertoire.

Once a work becomes denounced by critics, reinstatement can be very slow, but having studied the work for a few weeks, I don't see the perceived weaknesses that have put the work on the back burner. Tchaikovsky's second piano concerto also uses a piano trio in the slow movement, and that too has received criticism.

I see the piano trio medium as being two contrasting sounds, with the violin and cello working together, contrasting with the weightier piano, rather than three instruments each attempting to be equal with the others.

[Barbirollians]

I have never understood why it has got a bad press having fallen for the work due to the Oistrakh Trio recording with Sargent on an EMI Eminence cassette many moons ago .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Has it "got a bad press"? It's not one of the composer's greatest works - but with this composer, even the "lesser" works are wonderful. I love it.

[visualnickmos]

Has it "got a bad press"? It's not one of the composer's greatest works - but with this composer, even the "lesser" works are wonderful. I love it.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Has it "got a bad press"? It's not one of the composer's greatest works - but with this composer, even the "lesser" works are wonderful. I love it.

It's often dismissed quickly in books about Beethoven, and was given similar treatment on this forum, when performed at the Proms a few years ago.

Mind you, Strauss's final tone poem was similarly dismissed until the late '60s, but those days seem to have disappeared.

[Zucchini]

I heard a brilliant performance by Baiba Skride, Lars Vogt & Daniel Muller-Schott with CBSO/Nelsons. I'd guess it's rather neglected because 3 top soloists are hard to assemble and don't come cheap (this was a benevolent fund gala). They seemed to have fun!

[Bryn]

As I think I have mentioned before. I find it one of the most convivial concertos ever written. Love the PB-S et al recording with Collegium Aureum.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I heard a brilliant performance by Baiba Skride, Lars Vogt & Daniel Muller-Schott with CBSO/Nelsons. I'd guess it's rather neglected because 3 top soloists are hard to assemble and don't come cheap (this was a benevolent fund gala). They seemed to have fun!

Could well be - the only time I've seen it Live was with the Beaux Arts Trio (Hallé/Loughran; Leeds Town Hall, 1980). It's probably more "convenient" with an "established" Piano Trio than trying to find space in the diaries of three independent soloists?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's probably more "convenient" with an "established" Piano Trio than trying to find space in the diaries of three independent soloists?

Keep spreading the word, ferney.

[gurnemanz]

I've just read Jan Swafford's recent Beethoven tome (as recommended elsewhere on this board) and he suggests it might have been a potential "calling card" - a kind of symphonie concertante - for his projected visit to France, which of course never took place. He managed to sell the work to a publisher but seems to have lost interest in it a bit himself. He "scarcely promoted it" and it was apparently only performed once in his lifetime.

I don't play it that often but like the sprightly version with soloists Gil Shaham, Yefim Bronfman, Truls Mørk under David Zinman and the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra.

[Barbirollians]

My favourite is probably now the live Argerich, Capucon and Maisky account . I am sure I read somewhere that Argerich and Maisky also played it in the 1990s with Ida Haendel playing the violin part now that is something I should like to hear.

[ostuni]

One of my favourite Beethoven pieces - though undoubtedly less profound that some of the others in that same category. I've only heard two live performances - one was in London, many years ago, with the line-up alluded to by Bryn in #7: Collegium Aureum, Anner Bylsma, Paul Badura Skoda , and whoever was their leader - their recording was my introduction to the work. And the other was an amateur performance in Gloucestershire, 1990s, with my wife playing the cello solo.

In the past couple of years, two recordings have come out which very much suit my tastes for leaner, HIPP-influenced interpretations. Tetzlaff, Tetzlaff, Vogt & Northern Sinfonia was excerpted on Record Review recently: similar, but slightly more vivid, is Carmignola, Gabetta, Lazic & Kammerorchester Basel/Antonini.

[richardfinegold]

Has it "got a bad press"? It's not one of the composer's greatest works - but with this composer, even the "lesser" works are wonderful. I love it.

I’ve read many a review of a recording of the work that begins with the reviewer snidely disparaging the piece. Same with the Brahms Double
Regarding the OP last paragraph, might it be possible that the role of instruments has changed a bit? The Pianos were weak in the bass in the early 18th Century and some of the Cello parts were meant to reinforce the bass

[Alison]

How could you not carry on listening after that marvellous introduction?!

[cloughie]

I’ve read many a review of a recording of the work that begins with the reviewer snidely disparaging the piece. Same with the Brahms Double
Regarding the OP last paragraph, might it be possible that the role of instruments has changed a bit? The Pianos were weak in the bass in the early 18th Century and some of the Cello parts were meant to reinforce the bass

We cannot be responsible for the personal taste of reviewers. Two early favouries of mine were: Fournier/Schneiderhan/Anda and Knushevitzky/Oborin/Oistrakh D