Schumann's Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor was composed in Dresden between June 3 and 16, 1847, entering a genre already enriched by works from Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn.
Composer Biography
Robert Schumann, the composer, dedicated ten years to piano composition in Leipzig, creating masterpieces for his beloved Clara Wieck, a prodigious pianist and composer.
Compositional Technique
In his Piano Trio No. 1, Schumann began using German for tempo and expression marks, and his passion for counterpoint enriched the textures of both fast and slow movements.
Album & Artwork
The album title "Schumann 'Nous trois'" and the Trio Karénine's name are inspired by Philipp Otto Runge's sketch "Wir Drei" (We Three), symbolizing close friendship and the life force of Tolstoy's heroine Anna Karenina.
Composition History
Schumann considered chamber music "the worthiest form of composition" and approached its mastery by first composing three string quartets, dedicating them to Mendelssohn, before integrating the piano into his quintet and quartet.
Performer Biography
The Trio Karénine, comprising Paloma Kouider (piano), Fanny Robilliard (violin), and Louis Rodde (cello), won top prize at the 62nd ARD International Competition in Munich in 2013.
Instruments
Fanny Robilliard, the violinist of Trio Karénine, plays a Michele Deconet violin from Venice, 1770, on loan from Atelier Kogge & Gateau.
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Brahms: Piano Trios, Opp. 8 & 87
Mendelssohn - Lalo: Piano Trios: Piano Trio in C Minor, op.66; Piano Trio in A Minor, op.26
