Ludwig van Beethoven - The Piano Trios, Vol. 2 (Busch Trio)

Information

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

• Piano Trio in G Major, Op. 1 No. 2
• Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, WoO 38
• Allegretto in E-Flat Major, Hess 48
• Allegretto in B-Flat Major, WoO 39
• Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44

Busch Trio

    Mathieu van Bellen, violin

    Ori Epstein, cello

    Omri Epstein, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Alpha Classics

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In this second volume of their complete Beethoven piano trios, Busch Trio highlights the remarkable range that Ludwig van Beethoven achieved within the piano trio format. The programme includes the Trio in G major, Op. 1 No. 2, composed in 1793 as part of Beethoven’s early Viennese publications, and the earlier Trio in E-flat major, WoO 38, written during his Bonn period and notable for its three-movement structure without a slow movement. Also featured are the concise Allegretto in E-flat and the later Allegretto in B-flat, WoO 39, dating from 1812 during the period of the “Archduke Trio.” The recording concludes with the Variations in E-flat major, Op. 44, based on themes from an opera by Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf, collectively showcasing Beethoven’s expressive depth, formal experimentation, and enduring humanistic spirit.

Busch Trio is a chamber ensemble formed by close friends Omri Epstein, Mathieu van Bellen, and Ori Epstein during their studies at the Royal College of Music. Their collaboration evolved organically from individual solo ambitions into a unified artistic identity centered on piano trio repertoire. The ensemble is named in tribute to violinist Adolf Busch, whose musical ideals strongly influence their interpretative approach, reflected in their use of historical instruments such as an 18th-century Guadagnini violin and gut strings. Now based in Amsterdam, the trio performs internationally at major venues and festivals across Europe and the United States, earning critical acclaim for their refined ensemble playing and stylistic insight. Their recordings for Alpha Classics include complete works by Dvořák, Schubert, Ravel, and Shostakovich, with an ongoing Beethoven trio cycle further establishing their presence in the core chamber music repertoire.