Schubert: Piano Trio D898, Notturno, Trio movement D28 – The Florestan Trio Hyperion

Piano Trio No 1 in B flat major D898[40’05]
1
Allegro moderato[15’00]
2
Andante un poco mosso[9’27]
3
Scherzo: Allegro[6’34]
4
Rondo: Allegro vivace – Presto[9’04]
5
Notturno in E flat major D897[8’38]
6
Piano Trio movement in B flat major D28[10’29]

Hyperion is thrilled to be able to unite the remarkable talents of The Florestan Trio, deemed by Classic CD as ‘among the finest chamber ensembles of the present day’, with one of Schubert’s greatest masterpieces, the magnificent Piano Trio in B flat major, D898. Of all the large-scale works of his last years, D898 is one that reflects the popular image of the carefree, companionable Schubert, pouring out a stream of spontaneous melody. From its soaring opening theme to the sublimated echoes of Viennese popular music in the finale, the music exudes life-affirming energy.

The ‘Notturno’ (so titled by the publisher) in E flat was the original slow movement of the B flat trio. Schubert’s reasons for its eventual replacement remain unclear, but the work now stands alone most effectively as an entity of sustained melody and tranquillity.

The last work, the single-movement ‘Sonate’ (the composer’s designation) was written when the composer was just 15. He was in self-consolatory mode and D28 was his immediate response to losing his treble voice, and with it his place in Vienna’s Imperial Chapel Choir. An early work with apparent influences from Mozart, it is a work of great insight, lyricism and charm that reflect the despondent teenager’s determination to lift his spirits.