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Complete Piano Trios vol. 4
Ludwig van Beethoven

Van Baerle Trio

Complete Piano Trios vol. 4

Price: € 20.95
Format: SACD
Label: Challenge Classics
UPC: 0608917278224
Catnr: CC 72782
Release date: 04 October 2019
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Label
Challenge Classics
UPC
0608917278224
Catalogue number
CC 72782
Release date
04 October 2019

"This is a recording that should be in everyone’s collection."

Fanfare, 03-4-2020
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Artist(s)
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About the album

Beethoven’s most famous piano trio is dedicated to the Archduke Rudolph, himself an accomplished musician. The importance of Rudolph as a patron can be seen in the number of other prominent works that Beethoven dedicated to him. Beethoven started work on the trio in the second half of 1810, but much of the work was done in March of the next year. Some descriptions give an inkling of how novel a composition this was perceived to be, and a young Ignaz Moscheles reported: “In the case of how many compositions is the word ‘new’ misapplied! But never in Beethoven's, and least of all in this, which again is full of originality.”

A year after the Archduke, Beethoven wrote another piano trio in B-flat major. The autograph dates it 26 June 1812, but besides the similarity in key it is different in every way. It consists of a single movement, was not published during the composer’s lifetime, and was written to encourage the nine-year-old Maximiliane Brentano in her piano playing.

The Trio in E-flat WoO 38 might have been once intended to be part of op. 1 and although there are no extant sketches to support this, the style of the composition makes a dating of around 1790-1 plausible. The trio contains some surprising twists and turns, particularly in its lengthy codas.

The last piece for piano trio that Beethoven published during his lifetime has one of the longest compositional histories of all of his works. It consists of a long introduction, followed by ten variations on ‘Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu’ from Wilhelm Müller’s popular opera Die Schwestern von Prag. The first version of this piece was probably composed between 1801 and 1803, but it was substantially revised in 1816, and most likely further revised before publication in 1824. This final trio therefore includes elements from Beethoven’s early, middle, and late styles.
Het vierde album in de reeks met alle pianotrio's van Ludwig van Beethoven van het geroemde en productieve Van Baerle Trio is het voorlaatste. In het voorjaar van 2020 volgt het vijfde en laatste deel van de reeks. En hoe kan het anders, ook deze vierde opname van pianist Hannes Minnaar, violiste Maria Milstein en cellist Gideon den Herder is van hoge kwaliteit.

Voor aartshertog Rudolph

Beethoven droeg zijn werk graag op aan de Weense adel, begrijpelijk want door deze edelen kreeg de componist vele kansen. Dit keer valt de eer te beurt aan zijn beschermheer aartshertog Rudolph van Oostenrijk, zelf een volleerd muzikant. Aan hem droeg Beethoven zijn beroemdste pianotrio op, het pianotrio opus 97 'Aartshertog'. Het is Beethovens laatste voltooide grootschalige bijdrage aan dit genre, en net als de andere, aan Rudolph opgedragen werken, een hoogtepunt in het genre.

Het stuk werd in Beethovens tijd als vooruitstrevend en origineel beschouwd. Het eerste deel is ruimtelijk van opzet en heeft een geraffineerde harmonische structuur. Het tweede deel, een scherzo, is qua effect veel directer, waarin de toon onmiddellijk is gezet als de cello met een vrolijk thema begint, vier maten later overgenomen wordt door de viool, de piano zwijgt en de strijkers 15 maten lang alleen blijven. Sommigen vermoedden bij de eerste uitvoering dat het een komische vergissing van de pianist was. De daaropvolgende triosectie is een van de merkwaardigste die Beethoven ooit schreef. Waarna het vierde langzame deel een diepzinnig thema introduceert met onder meer ingewikkelde figuraties, een sereen deel, een humoristische finale met een donderslag bij heldere hemel en een vrolijk einde.

Trio voor een jong meisje

Een jaar na de ‘Aartshertog’ schreef Beethoven nog een pianotrio in Bes-groot. Hij schreef het om de negenjarige Maximiliane Brentano aan te moedigen in haar pianospel. Haar moeder Antonie was wellicht de ‘onsterfelijke geliefde’ uit de beroemde brief die Beethoven slechts tien dagen na dit trio schreef. Het is niet bekend wanneer Antonie en Beethoven elkaar voor het eerst ontmoetten, maar sommigen speculeren dat Maximiliane misschien wel de dochter van de componist zou kunnen zijn. Het trio is een eenvoudig Allegretto in sonatevorm, en de technische vereisten voor de drie spelers blijven ver onder die van andere kamermuziekwerken van Beethoven, vast om de beperkte capaciteiten van de jonge Maximiliane niet te overvragen.

Verrassende wendingen

Het Trio in Es-groot WoO 38 was misschien ooit bedoeld als deel van op. 1, gezien de stijl van de compositie is het mogelijk rond 1790/1791 geschreven. Beethoven experimenteerde toen met verschillende aspecten van het pianotrio, en dacht nog aan een driedelige vorm, met een scherzo in de plaats van het gebruikelijke langzame deel. Hoewel Beethoven dit trio uiteindelijk niet uitgaf, heeft het een aantal interessante verrassende wendingen.

Laatste pianotrio

Het laatste pianotrio dat Beethoven uitgaf heeft een van de langste compositiegeschiedenissen van al zijn werken. Het bestaat uit een lange introductie, gevolgd door tien variaties op ‘Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu’ uit Wilhelm Müller’s populaire opera Die Schwestern von Prag. De eerste versie schreef Beethoven vermoedelijk tussen 1801 en 1803, om het in 1816 substantieel te herzien en waarschijnlijk in 1824 nog een keer. De tiende en laatste variatie is, denkt men, het meest herschreven en bevat een geraffineerde dubbelfuga, het bevat elementen uit Beethovens vroege, middelste, en late stijlen.

Een combinatie van oud en nieuw

Minnaar speelt op de, in 2017, gebouwde Chris Maene Concert Grand vleugel. In dit bijzondere instrument zijn kennis en materialen van de moderne pianobouw gecombineerd met die van oudere, historische instrumenten. De soliditeit van de moderne vleugel in combinatie met het transparante klankideaal van oude instrumenten zorgt voor een bijzonder effect. Deze symbiose van oud en nieuw was een inspiratiebron bij het opnemen van Beethovens Pianotrio’s.

Gevestigde reputatie

Het Van Baerle Trio is in 2004 opgericht door pianist Hannes Minnaar, violiste Maria Milstein en cellist Gideon den Herder. De naam van het trio is ontleend aan de straat waar hun muzikale wortels liggen: de Van Baerlestraat in Amsterdam. Hier ontmoetten de drie musici elkaar tijdens hun studie aan het Conservatorium van Amsterdam, op een steenworp afstand van het Concertgebouw, dat het trio als zijn muzikale thuis beschouwt. Inmiddels heeft het trio een gevestigde reputatie opgebouwd in binnen- en buitenland.
Beethovens berühmtestes Klaviertrio ist Erzherzog Rudolph gewidmet, der selbst ein versierter Musiker war. Die Bedeutung Rudolphs als Mäzen zeigt sich in der Anzahl weiterer bekannter Werke, die Beethoven ihm widmete. Beethoven begann das Trio 1810, doch ein Großteil des Werkes entstand im März des Folgejahres. Einige Beschreibungen lassen erahnen, welche Neuheit diese Komposition gewesen sein muss, und ein junger Ignaz Moscheles berichtete: „Bei wie vielen Kompositionen steht das Wörtchen ‚neu‘ am unrechten Platze: Doch bei Beethovens Kompositionen nie, und am wenigsten bei dieser, welche wieder voll Originalität ist.“

Ein Jahr nach dem Erzherzog-Trio schrieb Beethoven ein weiteres Klaviertrio in B-Dur. Das Autograph datiert es auf den 26. Juni 1812, doch neben der Ähnlichkeit der Tonart ist es in allem verschieden. As besteht aus nur einem Satz, blieb zu Lebzeiten des Komponisten unveröffentlicht, und war geschrieben worden, um die neunjährige Maximiliane Brentano in ihrem Klavierspiel zu fördern.

Das Trio in Es-Dur, WoO 38, mag einstmals als Teil des Op. 1 gedacht gewesen sein, und wenngleich es keine Skizzen gibt, die diese Theorie stützen, so macht doch der Stil des Werkes ein Datieren um 1790/91 herum plausibel. Das Trio birgt einige überraschende Wendungen, besonders in seinen langen Codas.

Das letzte Stück für Klaviertrio, das Beethoven zu Lebzeiten veröffentlichte, besitzt eine der längsten Kompositionsgeschichten unter all seinen Werken. Es besteht aus einer langen Einleitung, gefolgt von zehn Variationen auf „Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu“ aus Wilhelm Müllers beliebter Oper Die Schwestern von Prag. Es ist anzunehmen, dass die erste Fassung des Trios vermutlich zwischen 1801 und 1803 entstand; sie wurde aber vermutlich 1816 revidiert und vor ihrer Veröffentlichung 1824 wahrscheinlich abermals überarbeitet. Das Trio weist deshalb Elemente von Beethovens frühem, mittleren und späten Stil auf.

Artist(s)

Van Baerle Trio

The Van Baerle Trio was founded in 2004 by the pianist Hannes Minnaar, violinist Maria Milstein and cellist Gideon den Herder. The name of the trio refers to the street where it all started: the Van Baerle street in Amsterdam. The three musicians met there during their studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, at a stone‘s throw from the Concertgebouw, which they consider as their musical home. After winning the 2011 Vriendenkrans Competition in the Concertgebouw and performing there on numerous occasions since, the Van Baerle Trio was nominated by this celebrated concert hall for ECHO Rising Stars 2013/14, a tour which brought the trio to major concert venues across Europe, including Vienna‘s Musikverein, the London Barbican, Cité de la Musique...
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The Van Baerle Trio was founded in 2004 by the pianist Hannes Minnaar, violinist Maria Milstein and cellist Gideon den Herder. The name of the trio refers to the street where it all started: the Van Baerle street in Amsterdam. The three musicians met there during their studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, at a stone‘s throw from the Concertgebouw, which they consider as their musical home.
After winning the 2011 Vriendenkrans Competition in the Concertgebouw and performing there on numerous occasions since, the Van Baerle Trio was nominated by this celebrated concert hall for ECHO Rising Stars 2013/14, a tour which brought the trio to major concert venues across Europe, including Vienna‘s Musikverein, the London Barbican, Cité de la Musique in Paris, L‘Auditori in Barcelona and the Philharmonie in Cologne.
Before starting this European tour, the Van Baerle Trio had already established its international reputation, after being awarded top prizes at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich in 2013 and the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition in 2011, as well as receiving the audience prize at both contests. In the Netherlands the trio was awarded the Kersjes Prize, a bursary which supports an outstanding, young Dutch ensemble each year.
The Van Baerle Trio was formed under the guidance of Dmitri Ferschtman and received lessons from Ferenc Rados and Claus-Christian Schuster, among others. The encounter with Menahem Pressler in 2008 was a great inspiration to the three musicians, who subsequently played for him on several occasions. Eager to share their experience with the next generation of musicians, the trio members have been teaching at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam since 2014.
The Van Baerle Trio’s debut CD, featuring works by Saint-Saëns, Loevendie and Ravel, received an Edison Award in 2013. This CD was followed by an album dedicated to Mendelssohn’s piano trios, which includes the world premiere recording of the early version of his Piano Trio in D minor. The latest project of the Van Baerle Trio is recording the complete piano trios by Beethoven. Already four cd's appeared. The last one is nominated for the Edison Klassiek 2019, the last volume, number 5, will appear in spring 2020.

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Hannes Minnaar (piano)

Hannes Minnaar received international acclaim after winning prizes at the Queen Elisabeth Competition (2010, 3rd prize) and the Geneva International Music Competition (2008, 2nd prize) and being awarded a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship (2011). He studied with Jan Wijn at the Amsterdam Conservatory, graduating with the highest distinction and took master classes with Menahem Pressler and Ferenc Rados. In addition, he studied organ with Jacques van Oortmerssen. Minnaar was soloist with various orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, during which time he worked with conductors such as Marin Alsop, Jiří Bělohlávek, Herbert Blomstedt, Frans Brüggen, Eliahu Inbal, Edo de Waart and Xian Zhang. He gives recitals in many European countries and around the world. He performed at the Royal Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Konzerthaus...
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Hannes Minnaar received international acclaim after winning prizes at the Queen Elisabeth Competition (2010, 3rd prize) and the Geneva International Music Competition (2008, 2nd prize) and being awarded a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship (2011). He studied with Jan Wijn at the Amsterdam Conservatory, graduating with the highest distinction and took master classes with Menahem Pressler and Ferenc Rados. In addition, he studied organ with Jacques van Oortmerssen.
Minnaar was soloist with various orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, during which time he worked with conductors such as Marin Alsop, Jiří Bělohlávek, Herbert Blomstedt, Frans Brüggen, Eliahu Inbal, Edo de Waart and Xian Zhang. He gives recitals in many European countries and around the world. He performed at the Royal Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Konzerthaus (Berlin), Musashino Hall (Tokyo) and the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory (Moscow) and was invited to the festivals of La Roque d’Anthéron, Bordeaux (Jacobins) and Guangzhou.
Minnaar is also active as a chamber musician. As a member of the Van Baerle Trio he won prizes at competitions in Lyon (2011, CIMCL, 1st prize) and Munich (2013, ARD, 2nd prize). The trio gave 18 concerts in an international tour in the “Rising Stars” series in 2014, including the Barbican (London), Musikverein (Vienna) and Cité de la Musique (Paris). Minnaar also performed with musicians such as Janine Jansen, Isabelle van Keulen and Mischa Maisky.
His two solo albums are highly acclaimed. His debut album was awarded an Edison and Gramophone published a full-page article about this album. The same magazine wrote about his second album “Bach inspirations”: “After Minnaar’s debut disc, this makes two hits in a row”. BBC Music Magazine selected it as “Instrumental choice of the month” with 5 stars.
Minnaar is currently recording all of Beethoven’s piano concertos for Challenge Classics. Other future concert highlights include Liszt’s Totentanz and a new concerto by Robert Zuidam with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Markus Stenz – at which occiasion he will be awarded the Dutch Music Prize by the Dutch Minister of Culture – and Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Daniele Rustioni.


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Maria Milstein (violin)

Born in Moscow into a family of musicians, Maria Milstein studied in Amsterdam with Ilya Grubert, in London with David Takeno and at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo (Belgium) with Augustin Dumay. Maria is a prizewinner of major international competitions both as a soloist and as a chamber musician, such as “Città di Brescia” and “Premio Rodolfo Lipizer” in Italy, the ARD Competition in Munich, the Lyon Chamber Music Competition and the Kersjes Prize in the Netherlands. In 2016, Maria is awarded the Fellowship of the Borletti Buitoni Trust, and in 2018, she receives the Dutch Music Prize - the highest recognition for a classical musician in the Netherlands awarded by the Ministry of Culture. Maria performs extensively across Europe...
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Born in Moscow into a family of musicians, Maria Milstein studied in Amsterdam with Ilya Grubert, in London with David Takeno and at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo (Belgium) with Augustin Dumay.
Maria is a prizewinner of major international competitions both as a soloist and as a chamber musician, such as “Città di Brescia” and “Premio Rodolfo Lipizer” in Italy, the ARD Competition in Munich, the Lyon Chamber Music Competition and the Kersjes Prize in the Netherlands. In 2016, Maria is awarded the Fellowship of the Borletti Buitoni Trust, and in 2018, she receives the Dutch Music Prize - the highest recognition for a classical musician in the Netherlands awarded by the Ministry of Culture.
Maria performs extensively across Europe in halls such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, BOZAR in Brussels, Musikverein in Vienna, the Philharmonie of Cologne and Cité de la Musique in Paris. She has appeared as a soloist with a.o. The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Hague Philharmonic, the Brussels Philharmonic and Amsterdam Sinfonietta, and worked with conductors such as Vasily Petrenko, Giancarlo Guerrero, Michel Tabachnik, Jean-Jacques KA keen chamber musician, Maria formed the succesful Van Baerle Trio together with pianist Hannes Minnaar and cellist Gideon den Herder, one of the leading trios of its generation. After winning the ARD Competition and the Lyon Chamber Music Competition, the Trio made the ECHO Rising Stars Tour in 2014, peforming in famous concert halls all over Europe. The Trio already released two CD’s, both praised in the international press, and is presently recording the complete works for piano trio by Beethoven for Challenge Records.
Maria’s own debut CD « Sounds of War », recorded with pianist Hanna Shybayeva for Cobra Records and featuring Sonatas by Poulenc, Janáček and Prokofiev, received lavish reviews in the international press and won the Edison Klassiek Prize 2015 in the category “best chamber music album”. In October 2017 her second album “La Sonate de Vinteuil”, recorded with pianist Nathalia Milstein is released on the French label Mirare, and is voted “best CD of 2017” by the Dutch press.
Maria plays on a violin by Michel Angelo Bergonzi (Cremona, ca. 1750), on loan from the Dutch Music Instruments Foundation, and holds a teaching position at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.antorow, Christian Arming and Reinbert de Leeuw.

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Gideon den Herder (cello)

  Gideon den Herder initially started at Monique Bartels in Amsterdam and at Hagen in Salzburg. In Zurich he obtained his solo degree with Thomas Grossenbacher. In baroque cello he trained under the guidance of Jaap ter Linden and Roel Dieltiens. In 2003 Gideon den Herder won the title Young Music Talent of the Year, and in 2009 he won the old music competition À Tre in Trossingen (Germany) with the Trio Otone. As a member of the Van Baerle Trio Gideon den Herder won several prizes, including the Kersjesprijs and the first prizes of the ARD Competition 2013 in Munich and the international chamber music competition of Lyon in 2011. The Van Baerle Trio performs frequently and is a guest...
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Gideon den Herder initially started at Monique Bartels in Amsterdam and at Hagen in Salzburg. In Zurich he obtained his solo degree with Thomas Grossenbacher. In baroque cello he trained under the guidance of Jaap ter Linden and Roel Dieltiens. In 2003 Gideon den Herder won the title Young Music Talent of the Year, and in 2009 he won the old music competition À Tre in Trossingen (Germany) with the Trio Otone. As a member of the Van Baerle Trio Gideon den Herder won several prizes, including the Kersjesprijs and the first prizes of the ARD Competition 2013 in Munich and the international chamber music competition of Lyon in 2011. The Van Baerle Trio performs frequently and is a guest in famous venues as the Musikverein in Vienna, the Cité de la Musique in Paris, the Philharmonie in Cologne and the Barbican Center in London. Gideon den Herder has also been in charge of the cellular section since 2014 at the Residentie Orkest in The Hague. He played an instrument by builder Giuseppe Dall'Aglio with a bow attributed to Dominique Peccatte, both on loan from the Nationaal Muziekinstrumenten Fonds.


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Composer(s)

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best-known compositions include nine symphonies, five piano concertos, one violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his great Mass the Missa solemnis, and one opera, Fidelio. Together with Mozart and Haydn, he was part of the First Viennese School.    Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of the Holy Roman Empire, Beethoven displayed his musical talents at an early age and was taught by his father Johann van Beethoven and by composer and conductor Christian Gottlob...
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Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best-known compositions include nine symphonies, five piano concertos, one violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his great Mass the Missa solemnis, and one opera, Fidelio. Together with Mozart and Haydn, he was part of the First Viennese School. Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of the Holy Roman Empire, Beethoven displayed his musical talents at an early age and was taught by his father Johann van Beethoven and by composer and conductor Christian Gottlob Neefe. At the age of 21 he moved to Vienna, where he began studying composition with Joseph Haydn, and gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. He lived in Vienna until his death. By his late 20s his hearing began to deteriorate, and by the last decade of his life he was almost totally deaf. In 1811 he gave up conducting and performing in public but continued to compose; many of his most admired works come from these last 15 years of his life.

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Press

This is a recording that should be in everyone’s collection.
Fanfare, 03-4-2020

Performance and recording standards are as high as ever, with that youthful vibrancy of sound that charms and smiles rather than delivers a stereotypical gruff, deaf and irritable Beethoven.
Music web International, 04-3-2020

Van Baerles bring to Beethoven's cascading climaxes - is in its quietness and intelligence.
Gramophone, 28-2-2020

A wonderful conclusion to a very listenable piano trio cycle.
Luister, 06-12-2019

Although I’m sure this set is now a firm contender to any other (more or less) complete release in any format, it is the only and therefore top choice in Super Audio. And rightly so.
HR Audio, 19-10-2019

Again the interpretations are struck by the youthful verve and the refined musicality with which they are played: the young generation that is concerned about the old Beethoven and gives this music a youthful appearance. That means charm where it's possible, power where it's needed.
Musicalifeiten, 11-10-2019

I can summarize it briefly: that Van Baerle brings out the best in Beethoven (and we all know what this means!).
Opus Klassiek, 11-10-2019

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Often bought together with..

Ludwig van Beethoven
Complete Works for Piano Trio vol. 5
Van Baerle Trio | Residentie Orkest The Hague
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Dichterliebe Op. 48 / Lenau-Lieder und Requiem Op. 90 / Wesendonck Lieder
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Complete Piano Trios vol. 3
Van Baerle Trio
Ludwig van Beethoven
Complete Piano Trios vol. 2
Van Baerle Trio
Ludwig van Beethoven
Complete Piano Trios vol. 1
Van Baerle Trio
Robert Schumann
Beyond Schumann
Michael Gees

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