BEETHOVEN / HUMMEL

 

Piano Trios

 

Ludwig van Beethoven

No. 3 C min Op. 1 No. 3,

No. 5 'Ghost' D major Op. 70 No. 1

 

Johann Nepomuk Hummel

Piano Trio No. 4 Op. 65

 

Andreas Staier (fortepiano Christopher Clarke, Donzy-le-National, 1996, after Conrad Graf Vienna c.1825)

Daniel Sepec (violin Lorenzo Storioni, Cremona 1780)

Jean-Guihen Queyras ('cello Gioffredo Cappa 1696)

 

Although they were the earliest works that the young Beethoven thought worthy to feature in his catalogue, the Trios Op. 1 were far from being his first compositions. But it was in them that he first asserted his ambitions and revealed his imaginative powers. Nearly 15 years separate them from the famous 'Ghost' Trio, one of the composer's mature masterpieces.

 

Our three performers have judiciously coupled these works with a remarkable trio by Hummel, one of Beethoven's principal rivals. Andreas Staier has pursued a career as a freelance soloist and has earned an outstanding reputation as both harpsichordist and fortepianist. Daniel Sepec devotes an increasing amount of his time to the Baroque violin. Hence he frequently appears as guest leader with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Camerata Academica Salzburg, and Camerata Bern, and as a soloist with the Academy of Ancient Music under Christopher Hogwood. In 2004 he founded the Arcanto Quartet, together with Jean-Guihen Queyras, Antje Weithaas and Tabea Zimmermann.

 

Harmonia Mundi HMC901955