Extraordinary presence

10 Nov 25

Badische Neueste Nachrichten, Markus Wittig

The third and final concert by the Linos Piano Trio attracted a large audience to the chamber music hall of the palace last Friday evening. ‘Beethoven’s Time’ was the theme of the trilogy. The first concert in 2024 focused on Beethoven’s early years. ‘Sturm und Drang’ was the theme in April this year, and the third was about his late work and Beethoven’s relationship with piano maker Nannette Streicher. The performance on the historical piano was impressive. At that time still called a fortepiano, the instrument on which Prach Boondiskulchok played was a historical replica of an “Andreas Stein Fortepiano.

“With extraordinary presence, the trio opened the evening with an “Allegro espressivo” from Louis Ferdinand Prince of Prussia’s piano trio in E flat major. It skilfully and convincingly reproduced the melodious work with virtuosity.”

The prince, who also composed in addition to his military career, was inspired by Beethoven’s music and even received praise from the master: he did not play royally or princely, but like a proficient keyboard player, Beethoven praised him.

The two compositions op. 70 No. 2 and op. 97 are among Beethoven’s great four-part trios. His aim was to give equal prominence to the three instruments. With great virtuosity and musical lightness, Konrad Elias Trost, violin, and Vladimir Waltham on cello, alternated with the piano in the third movement, “Allegro ma non troppo”.

The Archduke Trio, op. 97, was the last piece that Beethoven performed in public. Although he achieved an almost symphonic impression with this composition, the reviews were not so favourable: ‘It was not a pleasure…’ wrote Louis Spohr at the time. Beethoven was already deaf and had difficulties with the interpretation.

“The Linos Piano Trio, on the other hand, was in top form at Bruchsal Palace. The three soloists mastered the magnificent work with excellence, which was a treat for the ears in terms of intonation and dynamics. Loud, powerful passages were just as convincing as a pizzicato or a longer piano part. Even in the packed chamber music hall, there was a moment of tense silence in which one could have heard the famous drop of a pin.”

A brief musical excursion touched on Nannette Streicher, composer and daughter of piano maker Andreas Stein. ‘The March in E-flat major’ sounded rhythmic and concise. The trio received abundant applause and bravos for this masterfully virtuosic concert evening. As an encore, we actually heard a piano trio. All three musicians sat at the pianoforte.