Julius Röntgen - Piano Trios Nos. 6, 9 & 10 (Storioni Trio)

Information

Composer: Julius Röntgen

• Piano Trio No. 6 in C minor, Op. 50
• Piano Trio No. 10 in A major 'Gaudeamus'
• Piano Trio No. 9 in F minor 'Post tenebras lux'

Storioni Trio

    Bart van de Roer, piano

    Wouter Vossen, violin

    Marc Vossen, cello

Date: 2008

Label: Ars Produktion

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Review

Born into an accomplished musical family in the heart of German musical society, it is no surprise that Dutch composer Julius Röntgen should flourish and follow in the footsteps of his parents. After a distinguished musical education in Leipzig, Röntgen was called back to the Netherlands for a post in Amsterdam at the age of 23. Although he accepted the position hesitantly, he spent some five decades in the city that, upon his arrival, had a woefully underdeveloped cultural scene. Röntgen was instrumental in improving the musical landscape in Amsterdam by programming not only the works of the great masters, but also his own numerous compositions. Röntgen's output was vast and varied, although his chamber music works tended to be much more intimate and appeared at times of great personal highs and lows. Like Brahms, however, Röntgen was not a progressive and as such, his music was not looked upon favorably until the last decade or so. This Ars Produktion [sic] album is the first volume of what will hopefully be a complete set of Röntgen's piano trios. Performed by the Storioni Trio, Röntgen's Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth piano trios are given a new lease on life. Composed squarely in the German Romantic tradition, the three trios are filled with long, flowing melodies; rich and varied harmonies; and balanced interplay between the three musicians. The Storioni Trio's playing is warm, pleasantly nuanced, technically solid, and musically satisfying. Whether listening in standard stereo or in SACD multichannel sound, the sound quality of the album is quite clear and resonate. Listeners who are seeking to expand their chamber music libraries are not likely to be disappointed by this addition.

— Mike D. Brownell

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Julius Röntgen (9 May 1855 – 13 September 1932) was a German-Dutch composer and teacher. Privately educated, he began composing at age eight and studied under prominent musicians like Ferdinand David, Carl Reinecke and Franz Lachner. A meeting with Brahms in 1874 had a decisive influence on his compositional style. Settling in Amsterdam in 1877, Röntgen co-founded the Amsterdam Conservatory and helped establish the Concertgebouw building. He composed over 650 works in almost every genre, evolving from Romanticism to modern experimentation. His first wife was Swedish composer Amanda Maier.

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Founded in the Netherlands in 1995, the Storioni Trio is known for its wide-ranging repertoire from Haydn to contemporary composers like Henze. The Trio frequently commissions and premieres new works. Their performances aim to convey storytelling through music, recently showcased in their acclaimed Beethoven trio cycle on both modern and period instruments. The Trio also directs the Storioni International Music Festival, featuring top artists and annual concerto commissions. They have performed at major venues such as Wigmore Hall and Carnegie Hall, and toured globally across five continents.

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