Beethoven’s first three published piano trios, his official Op. 1, were written in 1792 during his time in London. Conceived on an unprecedentedly large scale, the traditional two- or three- movement design of chamber music with piano, expanded to four movements. Of his subsequent piano trios only the comparatively lightweight Op. 11, and the ‘Ghost’ Op. 70 No. 1 retain the old-fashioned three-movement form. No. 2 forms the expressive high point of the series as a whole. It is a piece whose breadth and serenity are remarkable for the work of so young a composer.

The original edition of the Op. 11 trio included a part for violin, as a substitute for the clarinet, and the work is being performed here in this alternative scoring. While the wind instrument undeniably provides a perkiness appropriate to the finale’s variation tune, its part lies perfectly comfortably on the violin.

Formed in Berlin in 2003 by Annette von Hehn, Stefan Heinemeyer and Thomas Hoppe, the ATOS Trio has established itself as one of the finest piano trios performing today.