Anton Arensky - Piano Trio No. 1, Op. 32 in D minor

Composer: Anton Stepanovich Arensky (12 July 1861 -- 25 February 1906)
Performers: "Beaux Arts Trio": Menahem Pressler (piano), Ida Kavafian (violin), Peter Wiley (cello)
Year of Recording: 1994

Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 32, written in 1894.

00:00 - I. Allegro moderato
12:43 - II. Scherzo. Allegro molto
18:49 - III. Elegia. Adagio
25:35 - IV. Finale. Allegro non troppo

Arensky's first piano trio was composed in memory of cellist Karl Davidov, friend of both the composer and Tchaikovsky, as well as director of the St. Petersburg Conservatory during Arensky's studies. The cello plays a prominent role in the trio, at times matching or surpassing the violin in importance. In fact, many sections of the piece sound like a piano and cello duet, perhaps honoring not just Davidov but also Arensky's cellist father.

The piece opens with a soaring, lyrical movement that interrupts the warm, flowing sections with sudden, passionate outbursts containing playful traces of Mendelssohnian charm. As a whole, the first movement exudes remarkable power and energy. Even the lyrical passages are accompanied by a pulsating accompanying figure in the piano, resulting in a feeling of constant motion and energy.
The second movement is a light-hearted, ear-tickling scherzo which entices the listener to join in the dance.
This lighthearted movement is followed by a tender, reflective "Elegia," with the muted cello introducing the melancholy theme. Even the passages which evoke a happier mood seem to be only memories. The dreamlike third movement is abruptly answered by...
the more forceful, dramatic opening of the finale, which serves to pull together fragments from the preceding movement in a summarizing final paragraph.

The piece is dedicated: "À la memoire de Charles Davidoff".