Concert Program II

From Haydn

As with the symphony and string quartet, Haydn elevated the piano trio genre to one of Western music’s vital expressive mediums. His catalog of more than forty trios captures the essence of the Classical era and provided an archetype for subsequent generations of composers. Not least among these was his protégé Ludwig van Beethoven, who transformed the form into a vehicle for the fiercest and most deeply felt musical expression. Concert Program II juxtaposes two of Haydn’s most sophisticated piano trios with Beethoven’s Trio in c minor, op. 1, no. 3—composed contemporaneously with Haydn’s late trios—and the colossal Ghost Trio. This concert is dedicated to the memory of violinist, arts advocate, and humanitarian Isaac Stern.