Presents
Charles Auguste de Beriot
Piano Trio in D Major, Op.4
On themes from Carl Maria von Weber's opera Robin des Bois (der Freischȕtz)
Charles Auguste de Beriot (1802-1870) was was born in in the Belgian city of Leuven. At the age of 8 he moved to Paris. He studied the violin and was influenced by such luminaries as Viotti, Baillot and Paganini. He became a concert violinist and toured with great success throughout Europe. Later, he he served as a professor of violin at the Brussels Conservatory and is considered the founder of the so-called Franco-Belgian school of violin playing. He wrote a great deal of music, most of it for the violin, and his influence as a teacher remains important to this day. He did not, however, ignore chamber music, and has four piano trios and a piano quartet to his credit.
Because of the popularity of opera during the 19th century, there was a great demand by the music-making public for chamber music arrangements of theme from some of the more popular operas. These generally took the form of fantasies or sets of variations. Carl Maria von Weber knew and was a friend of de Beriot and praised his playing. Quite possibly as a way of saying thanks he wrote a piano trio based on Weber's early opera known to the French as Robin des Bois (Robin Hood) and in German as Der Freischȕtz. The work opens with a dramatic Maestoso, the tension created by piano tremolos. Next comes an attractive Moderato which is then followed by two virtuosic variations, the first for piano, the second for violin. Next comes an Allegretto which rather sounds like a lively Polacca. The fetching finale is Allegro non troppo, piu presto, makes a suitable conclusion recalling many of the themes.
A lighter work, and perhaps a bit of a curiosity, it is nonetheless very well-written for all three voices and is an appealing work which would surely please audiences if given in concert. Never reprinted and long unavailable we are pleased to make this trio available once more.
Parts: $19.95
