Haydn:
Piano Trio in B flat Hob. XV:20 (1794)

Rossini:
Duo for Cello and bass (1824)

Schubert:
Quartet THE DEATH AND THE MAIDEN (1824)

SPANNUNGEN Festival is known for such interesting, unconventional programming. Here, in a nutshell, we can also observe part of the great musical transformation which took place in chamber music over a mere two decades, not to mention the stunning degree of transformation undergone by musical history in general during that same period. In terms of texture and structure, it was Haydn who established the piano trio as a staple genre of chamber music. The two other pieces on this recording were both written in the year 1824. They differ thoroughly in character, both present the highest technical challenge to performers, and each one of them, in their day, undoubtedly counted as an astounding novelty. Rossini wrote for a rare coupling of instruments, thereby proving his worth as a master of chamber music. Schubert, on the other hand, met the almost simultaneous appearance of Beethoven’s late string quartets with his own “exclamation point” and wrote one of the most profoundly moving works in the entire genre.

The individual players of the three pieces show again the absolute TOP level of the invited friends of Lars Vogt. All of those are entirely infected by the enthusiasm and joy of playing and making music together in a special location outside the daily concert „circus“: between the poles of the location (hydroelectric power plant) and the musical works which are being rehearsed - on short notice’ and performed in front of an enthusiastic music crowd, which makes the adrenalin flying and boiling. Most of the performances are played with the exciting swing which makes the chamber music so worth hearing.