Piano Trio No. 1 (Trio concertant) in F sharp minor, Op. 1/1, M. 1 (1840)
1. Andante con moto [0:00]2. Allegro molto [10:12]3. Finale: Allegro maestoso [17:32]
This is the first trio for piano, violin and cello by Belgian-French composer César Franck (1822-1890). Composed at age 18, this trio was Franck’s début composition, and in it he already makes use of the cyclic form which would characterize many of his later works. As Franck’s disciple Vincent d’Indy wrote in Cobbett’s encyclopedia of chamber music, “With its budding genius, this trio (Op.1 No.1) marks an epoch in the history of musical evolution… alone at this period, the young composer ventured to plan his first important work according to ideas which Beethoven did little more than touch on in the last years of his life.”
Although this isn’t the same breathtaking, classic performance by Richter, Kagan and Gutman posted earlier on my channel, the Trio Novanta also gives a very admirable account of the work here. Here is a link to the recording by Richter, Kagan and Gutman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK7StsZVr90