Hermann Goetz; Friedrich Kiel - Piano Trios (Abegg Trio)

Information

Composer: Hermann Goetz; Friedrich Kiel

• Goetz - Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 1
• Kiel - Piano Trio in G major, Op. 34

Abegg Trio

    Ulrich Beetz, violin

    Birgit Erichson, cello

    Gerrit Zitterbart, piano

Date: 1986

Label: Intercord

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Review

Both Romantics, each with a highly individual distance from Romanticism, have so far been almost completely absent from the Bielefeld Catalog. All the more welcome, then, are these chamber music recordings, through which the Abegg Trio brings a breath of fresh air to the repertoire. One can only hope that concert agents will reward the ensemble’s efforts on behalf of Goetz and Kiel—especially since both compositions certainly deserve it.

Of course, echoes of Mendelssohn can be heard throughout the Opus 1 of the 23-year-old Hermann Goetz; of course, in Friedrich Kiel’s G major Trio from 1864, the Beethovenian influence is unmistakable; of course, neither score has the weight or stature of Brahms. Still, there is no reason for disinterest or disregard. After all, even in the 19th century, the geniuses were merely the solitary beacons that illuminated an endlessly rich musical landscape.

The Abegg Trio demonstrates how deeply it understands the demands and style of these trios, performing them not merely competently, but with real commitment—without over-intellectualizing on the one hand or resorting to showmanship on the other. Their interpretation is also sonically sensitive and finely detailed—as far as the somewhat reverberant recording allows. Given these works and these interpretations, any dismissiveness is entirely out of place. Admittedly, they are not works of genius—but they are chamber music pieces that stay in the ear, thanks to the Abegg Trio.

— Ekkehart Kroher

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Hermann Goetz (7 December 1840 – 3 December 1876) was a German composer who spent much of his career in Switzerland. Born in Königsberg, he studied piano and composition with Hans von Bülow in Berlin before moving to Switzerland in 1863. He became city organist in Winterthur and gained recognition as a composer and music critic. Illness forced him to stop teaching and performing, leading him to focus solely on composing in his final years. His works include a symphony, concertos, chamber music, piano pieces, and two operas: Der Widerspänstigen Zähmung and Francesca von Rimini.

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Friedrich Kiel (8 October 1821 – 13 September 1885) was a German composer and music educator. Early in his career, he received patronage from Prince Albrecht I and later studied composition in Berlin under Siegfried Dehn, supported by a royal scholarship. He taught at the Stern Conservatory and the Berlin Hochschule für Musik, mentoring notable students like Noskowski, Paderewski, Somervell and Stanford. His output includes over seventy works, including a piano concerto, motets, oratorios, as well as a Missa Solemnis and two Requiems, but his chamber music is considered his most significant legacy.

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The Abegg Trio, founded in 1976 in Hannover, gained international acclaim for their over 40 years of worldwide concert tours. Renowned for their refined interpretations, they recorded over 30 albums, including complete piano trio cycles by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and others. Many of their recordings received top awards and critical praise. The ensemble also explored historically informed performance, using period instruments and fortepianos. Beyond performance, they taught at conservatories in Münster and Hannover and led international masterclasses. The trio disbanded in 2017.

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