Johannes Brahms Piano Trio No. 2, Piano Trio in A Major Guarneri Trio Prague

• Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897): Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87:
• 1 Brahms: Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87: I. Allegro 08:52
• 2 Brahms: Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87: II. Andante con moto 06:53
• 3 Brahms: Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87: III. Scherzo. Presto 04:31
• 4 Brahms: Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87: IV. Finale. Allegro giocoso 06:08
• Piano Trio in A Major, Op. Posth:
• 5 Brahms: Piano Trio in A Major, Op. Posth: I. Moderato 10:44
• 6 Brahms: Piano Trio in A Major, Op. Posth: II. Vivace - Trio 05:59
• 7 Brahms: Piano Trio in A Major, Op. Posth: III. Lento 08:33
• 8 Brahms: Piano Trio in A Major, Op. Posth: IV. Presto 06:44
• Total Runtime 58:24

Info for Johannes Brahms Piano Trio No. 2, Piano Trio in A Major

The Guarneri Trio Prague returns to Brahms with a second volume of his Piano Trios. The trio number two, opus 87, was completed in the summer of 1882 and is a richly romantic work, full of soaring melodies. The A major trio, opus posthumous, is likely from the early 1850s. Its attribution is not certain. This 'sturm and drang' trio is one of the most mysterious components of the composer's legacy, originally culled from a collection of musical manuscripts by musicologist Ernst Bücken in 1924.

"The trio in A, imbued with astonishing juvenile ardour, it's obviously the work of a pianist writing for himself in his Sturm und Drang period. Featuring a gushing overabundant thematic profusion, it is quite close to the style of the first version of the trio in B, Op. 8. The Trio in C appears as a model of balance between great melodic richness and a lofty mastery of form and freedom of inspiration. Here, the Phantasie spirit remains, but a post-Beethovian vigour gives density to a discourse that is successively meditative, pathetic and rustling 'with nocturnal whispers', coming to a close in full light on a robust peasant dance. Most likely coming from the same pen, probably some thirty years apart, here are an amazing youthful attempt and its masterful 'fair copy'."

Guarneri Trio Prague

The Guarneri Trio Prague
belongs to the most renowned piano trios in the world of classical music. Founded by Ivan Klanský, Čeněk Pavlík and Marek Jerie, the Trio drew with its artistically spectacluar performances the attention of the international press early in its carreer. The Trio has been playing since 1986 in in the same line-up.

The ensemble performs regularly at many international music festivals including the Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Prague Spring, and Folle Journée in Nantes, Bilbao and Tokyo. The trio plays also at prestigious concert venues around the world, in cities like London, Paris, Prague, Madrid, Geneva and Hamburg. It has toured successfully throughout Europe, South and North America, Australia, Japan, the Phillipines and China.

The Guarneri Trio Prague has recorded the complete piano trios of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, Schubert, Brahms and Mozart for the French label Praga Digitals and the piano trios of Dvorak for the Czech label Supraphon. For their recordings the Trio was rewarded with many important prices (Diapason d’Or, Le Monde de la Musique, Choc).

The ensemble bears the family name of the makers of both string instruments used by the Trio. Cenek Pavlík plays the famous “Zimbalist“ violin by Guarneri del Gesù from the precious collection of Luigi Tarisio, while Marek Jerie plays a cello made by Andrea Guarneri in l684.

The Guarneri Trio Prague gives frequently master classes in different places all over the world.

Booklet for Johannes Brahms Piano Trio No. 2, Piano Trio in A Major