Piano Trios Ben 441, 435, 448 & 442

Galant Piano Trios
Ignaz Pleyel's grand total of fifty piano trios occupies a central place in his rich oeuvre -
which is hardly surprising inasmuch as he was a pupil of Joseph Haydn and later his friend.
Remarkably, however, Haydn's influence on Pleyel was less clear than one might perhaps
expect. While Pleyel published the large part of his symphonies and string quartets prior
to 1790, his occupation with the piano trio genre occurred mainly during the 1790s. The
Trio 1790 ensemble, whose critically acclaimed complete edition of Haydn's piano trios
currently comprises nine cpo CDs and soon will be released in a box set, now interprets
four of Pleyel's trios - of course on historical instruments. Galant melody, dramatic
harmony, and many tonal surprises contribute to the special appeal of these works.