CD 1:
Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1
Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 1 No. 3
Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 11

CD 2:
Piano Trio in G Major, Op. 1 No. 2
Piano Trio after the Symphony in D Major, Op. 36
Allegretto in E-flat Major, Hess 48

CD 3:
Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70 No. 1
Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 70 No. 2
Variations in E-flat Major, Op. 44

CD 4:
Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97, ‘Archduke’
Allegretto in B-flat Major, WoO 39
Piano Trio in E-flat Major, WoO 38
Variations on ‘Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu’, Op. 121a

CD 5:
Concerto in C Major for Pianoforte, Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra, Op. 56, ‘Triple Concerto’
Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 38 after the Septet, Op. 20

The young Van Baerle Trio, made of stunning soloists – Hannes Minnaar on piano, Maria Milstein on violin and Gideon den Herder on cello – have accomplished the Beethoven’s Piano Trio recordings. Now, Challenge Classics releases a box including the five volumes of their remarkable survey. It includes the three youthful Trios op. 1, the two great Trios op. 70, the absolute masterpiece which is the Trio op. 97, named ‘Archduke’.

Together with such ‘official’ and original works, there are also Beethoven’s own transcriptions of his own works: the Clarinet Trio op. 11, the Trio arrangements of the Septet op. 20 and of the Sympony no. 2. You will also find some light, occasional pieces like the Allegrettos in E-flat and in B-flat, the Variations op. 44 and op. 121a. The most unexpected work included in the box is the Triple Concerto, as the musicians consider it as a real piece of ‘augmented’ chamber music.

Fanfare: “I believe this is one of the great piano trio performances in the history of recording. This is a recording that should be in everyone's collection.”

Gramophone: “The effect is liberating and, in these joyous, playful performances, utterly refreshing. The effect is of real chamber music – up close and very personal.”

MusicWeb International: “To my ears the Van Baerle Trio is amongst the top rank in terms of performance and recorded quality.”

Luister: “The second volume is also exceptionally good. With great mastery, the Van Baerle Trio balances perfectly on the border between symphonic grandeur and chamber music transparency.”

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Recordings: 2017-2019. Maria Milstein plays a violin by Michel Angelo Bergonzi and Gideon den Herder play a cello by Giuseppe dall‘Aglio and a bow attributed to Dominique Peccatte. This recording was made using a Chris Maene Concert Grand built in 2017.