By Carlos Passage
Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos and Yo-Yo Ma join forces againEmanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos and Yo-Yo Ma join forces again
On March 26, 1827, the Rock Star of that time died… The Pop figure that everyone wanted to be with… Ludwig Van Beethoven… And to celebrate his music, three masters have come together again in a great album.
The album is called “Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 4 and Op. 97 Archduke” with the Jewish/Polish pianist Emanuel Ax, the Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos and the famous French-American cellist of Chinese origin Yo-Yo Ma.
Like their two previous releases of Beethoven’s music, the new album from this trio of masters challenges the traditional distinction between chamber and orchestral repertoire.
The album combines the unforgettable work “Archduke” with one of Beethoven’s most varied symphonies, carefully rearranged for piano, violin and cello by Los Angeles Philharmonic pianist Shai Wosner.
“Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 4 and Op. 97 Archduke” is the latest chapter in these three friends’ ongoing exploration of what Beethoven’s work means to musicians and audiences today.
TRACK LIST
SYMPHONY #4
The Symphony No. 4 in B flat major was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1806. It is the fourth of his nine symphonies. The score is dedicated to Count Franz von Oppersdorff.
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Op. 60: I. Adagio – Allegro vivace
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Op. 60: II. Adage
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Op. 60: III. Allegro vivace
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Op. 60: IV.
«ARCHDUKE»
The piano trio in B flat major, Op. 97, known as the Archduke Trio is a chamber piece for violin, cello and piano composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1811. The score is dedicated to Archduke Rudolph of Austria.
- Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 7 in B-Flat Major, Op. 97, “Archduke”: I. Allegro moderato
- Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 7 in B-Flat Major, Op. 97, «Archduke»: II. Scherzo. Allegro
- Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 7 in B-Flat Major, Op. 97, «Archduke»: III. Andante cantabile, but with a motorcycle
- Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 7 in B-Flat Major, Op. 97, «Archduke»: IV. Allegro
