Marschner: Piano Trios Vol. 2

Between the time of Carl Maria von Weber and the rise of Richard Wagner, Heinrich Marschner was the leading German opera composer, but he also wrote numerous works for chamber ensembles. His Piano Trios Nos. 2 and 6 share similar characteristics: both are in minor keys, rich in moving melodies and full of imaginative interplay between the three instruments. In contrast to the earlier, lighthearted Trio No. 1, No. 2 is a darker, more tension-filled work, albeit with Mendelssohnian grace. No. 6 also embodies elements of mid-19th-century Romanticism, expressed in music ranging from turbulent to eerie. The first part of this series featured Trios Nos. 1 and 7, which were enthusiastically received by the press: “They are all so interesting and sophisticated that they deserve attentive listening… I am very grateful to the Gould Piano Trio for its committed advocacy of these neglected, often delightful works and am already very much looking forward to the next installment” (Gramophone). The Gould Piano Trio is an important fixture in the Naxos catalog. It has also recorded some fine performances of British chamber music—William Alwyn, Arnold Bax, Charles Villiers Stanford, John Ireland—as well as Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Felix Mendelssohn, etc.