3/8/2021 Beethoven Piano Trio D Major, op. 70 no. 1 "Ghost"

"It was not an enjoyable experience. First of all the piano was dreadfully out of tune, which did not trouble Beethoven in the least, since he could not hear it. Little or nothing remained of the brilliant technique which had been so much admired. In loud passages, the poor deaf man hammered away at the notes crashing through whole groups of them so that without the score one lost all sense of the melody. I was deeply moved by the tragedy of it all. Beethoven's almost continual melancholy was no longer a mystery to me." (Louis Spohr, a violinist, commented when he was invited in 1808, to rehearse D Major Piano Trio with Beethoven)

Along with "Archduke", "Ghost" is Beethoven's most well played piano trio. It is a difficult piece, but for amateur musicians who play the piano trio (including the editor), it is a trio piece that we like to have as a repertoire. The trio chosen by the editor was recorded by Jacqueline du Pré (cello), Daniel Barenboim (piano) and Pinchas Zukerman (violin). Perhaps recorded in the early 1970s, this recording is a wonderful performance of young, promising musicians.

British-born Jacqueline du Pré started to notice around 1971 (when she was 26 years old) that sensations especially her fingertips have become dull. This symptom gradually worsened, and by the time of the performance tour in 1973, she was no longer able to professionally perform satisfactorily. In the fall of 1973, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and virtually retired as a professional cello player. For the next few years, she trained younger musicians as a cello teacher. In 1975, she was awarded the “Order of the British Empire” by Queen Elizabeth II. She died in 1987 at the age of 42 due to the progression of multiple sclerosis. (Wikipedia)

Watching the footage of Du Pré playing the giant Stradivarius "Davidov" made in 1713, which is said to be one of the best surviving Strads, is a pleasure.

Beethoven (1770-1827) is said that his deafness began around the age of 28, so he had already had deafness in the year he composed "Ghost." In 1808, when this piano trio was published, violinist Louis Spohr vividly described how it was to have rehearsed with Beethoven (see above quote by Spohr). "Ghost" is a work of Beethoven's "Middle" stylistic period (around 1803-1812), and it was the time when the most famous works including Symphony No. 5 and Symphony No. 6 were composed.