TRACKLISTING
CD 1
Mendelssohn
Piano Trio in D minor, op.49 · Piano Trio in C Minor, op.66
Schumann
Piano Trio No.3 in G minor, op.110

CD 2
Schumann
Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, op.63 · Piano Trio No.2 in F major, op.80
Clara Schumann
Piano Trio in G minor, op.17

CD 3
Chopin
Piano Trio in G minor, op.8
Tchaikovsky
Piano Trio in A minor, op.50

CD 4
Smetana
Piano Trio in G minor, op.15
Ives
Trio for Violin, Violoncello & Piano · Shostakovich
Trio No.2

The Beaux Arts Trio was originally formed in 1955 when the members comprised: ahem Pressler (piano), Daniel Guilet (violin), and Bernard Greenhouse (cello) and these were the members which began recording for Philips in 1967 and as heard in the two Mendelssohn Trios included here.

In 1969 Daniel Guilet retired from the ensemble and Isidore Cohen was the replacement; she would remain a member until her retirement in 1992.

It is the combination of Pressler – Cohen – Greenhouse which is heard on all the other recordings from the early years of the group’s association with Philips as demonstrated here. (Greenhouse would retire in 1987.) Other string players have been members of the Trio in the intervening years with Pressler a continuing link with the first days of this, one of the world’s most famous and acclaimed chamber music ensembles.

As an ensemble the Beaux Arts Trio have recorded a vast range of repertory and have been joined by guest players to perform and record piano quartets and quintets. The four CDs presented here from the years 1967-74 are indicative of the quality of playing and scope of repertory: from classic works by Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann through rarities such as the Trio by Clara Schumann and those by Smetana and Ives.