For nearly forty years after their composition, Beethoven's Opus 9 Trios could only be examined through performance, as a full score was not published until around 1846/7.
Composition History
Beethoven's three Opus 9 Trios were apparently completed by March 1798, when he assigned the publishing rights to Johann Traeg of Vienna.
Composer Biography
Beethoven, primarily known as a pianist, was in a weak position to promote his string trios due to his encroaching deafness.
Performer Biography
The Leopold Trio, formed in 1991, has won several national awards, including the Maisie Lewis Young Artists' Fund and the RTZ Ensemble Prize.
Recording & Production
This recording of Beethoven's Three String Trios, Op. 9, was made in Henry Wood Hall, London, in March 1998, with Tony Faulkner as the Recording Engineer.
Critical Reception
Early listeners in Vienna, a city with a conservative culture, found Beethoven's aims to surprise, interrupt, and overwhelm difficult to accept or enjoy.
Compositional Technique
The first-violin parts of Beethoven's Opus 9 Trios were likely composed with Ignaz Schuppanzigh, a professional violinist, in mind, making them too challenging for amateur players.
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