Haydn’s Piano Trios were intended for domestic use but the composer was typically inventive in subverting expected norms, bringing striking changes of mood, the use of unusual keys, and rich ornamentation to the supposedly placid world of the trio. Haydn also had a fondness for dance patterns, as his use of the polonaise in this volume shows; and he exploits the technical prowess of his pianist dedicatee, Maria Theresa née Hohenfeld, Dowager Princess Esterházy in Trio no.34 in B flat major. The Trios are played by the three First Prize winners of the prestigious Enescu Competition (Bucharest, 2014) who bring a fusion of historical insight and Romantic sensibility that offers a fresh perspective on Haydn.

Vol.8 is on 8574391 played by the Aquinas Piano Trio. Gramophone wrote that ‘These still little-known works are delightful, subtly crafted music, and the Aquinas deliver them with verve, affection and a sense of shared enjoyment.’

The Oberlin Trio play on Vol.7 on 8574385: ‘ Felicity, finesse, and good cheer are hallmarks of these performances, and I, for one, would not be unhappy to have the Oberlin Trio remain onboard to complete the remaining volumes of this survey, however many that may turn out to be’, wrote Fanfare.

Vol.6 is on 8574362 played by the Aquinas Piano Trio: ‘I can only say that the Aquinas Piano Trio could not have been a happier choice to take up the reins. … Strongly recommended’ (Fanfare).

Spanish-American pianist Josu de Solaun is a prolific instrumentalist and composer who has performed in many of the world’s most celebrated concert halls as a concerto soloist, chamber musician, solo recitalist and solo improviser and composer. He is also a published poet. The First Prize winner at the XIII George Enescu International Piano Competition in Bucharest (previous winners include legendary pianists Radu Lupu and Elisabeth Leonskaja), Josu de Solaun also won the First Grand Prize at the XV José Iturbi International Piano Competition and the First Prize and Audience Prize at the inaugural European Union Piano Competition. He earned his doctorate at the Manhattan School of Music.