Fun Fact: The opening was originally written for the violin but while working on the premier of the piece, Rostropovitch convinced Shostakovitch to change it to the much more difficult artificial harmonics on the cello.
My dear friend had this playing at his funeral, along with a piece from Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker (Op.71, TH.14 / Act 2: No. 14c Pas de deux), and Piano Concerto No.2 (Rachmaninoff). He had a full orchestra in a cathedral, even though he wasn't religious. He likes these three Russians, as he would call them. "The golden trio." He was an exceptional young fellow, a gentleman. Always dapper, always spoke well, and read a lot too. He was 19 at the age of death, and he knew it was about to happen. Handled it very stoic. When people came around, he asked "Have they swept away the gravel?" (After winter). Or "Did the postman come as usual today?" He knew we all were in grief, but somehow I think he enjoyed it. But the funeral was splendid, he had structured the songs in a particular order, first the Piano Trio (haunting violin tragedy), then this, and lastly Piano Concerto. He made someone read from the Illiad and some own poems. One of them was: We leave nothing to this world. Our life is for ourselves. And another one about a love of his, I don't know whom: So you look out for the stars Pay attention to the birds And the oceans And hope to glimpse her there And that constant hope Becomes you very reality. He had so many friends you never thought about. It was us at his age, from school and childhood. But then there were people all around the world. Young as old. Men, women. He had a dozen people flying in from Italy that I never knew existed. And they all had such beautiful stories about him. There was a girl too, from the west coast. She loved him uncontrollably, and I knew this would never end for her. For me, the whole thing was so beautiful I wanted to die too.
I love everything about this trio, but that final movement is just god-tier. To me, it's a perfect encapsulation of someone barely pretending to be happy, and then finally going insane. I particularly love that chaotic sarcasm from 22:20 to 22:44. Amazing performance by these three!
For me the fourth movement sounds more insidious, like someone with supreme power terrorizing people for the pure fun of it. Like it’s portraying the delight of an insane dictator or even the devil himself as they torture innocent people like a child toys with ants.
@@craigstephenson7676 Then Shosta indeed managed to convey what he intended the Finale to depict. It’s a programmatic movement inspired by the horrible and tragically enough, true, stories that were beginning to sip out of Germany that year, 1944. The melodies, inspired by Jewish folk music, represents the Jews that were forced by SS officers to dance by they graves before they were shot. You can also here resemblances of those gun shots in the music.
if you could put this in the description or pin this please 0:34 Andante - Moderato - Piú mosso 8:10 Allegro con brio 11:22 Largo 17:09 Allegretto 28:01 Applause
Those two pieces really share the same vibe. Actually, Shostakovich quotes himself from this trio in to the 8th string quartet (specifically, the 2nd mov), which is posterior
Shostakovich lived under a different terror: Stalin. This performance was magnificent from beginning to end. Thanks for pulling it out of the Argerich Vault.
Shostakovich experienced in difficult creative music journey under Soviet union. In spite of these huddle fence, he produced these immortal masterpiece such as piano trio no2 which is one of my favorite works. Also Martha Aregerich is precious virotuso who remains at piano field. She always gives me eternal joy and relief. It is elaborate and impressive performance.
This is on the current concert series of Camerata Pacifica with Irina Zahharenkova at the piano .... the experience may be the zenith of musical life. It is magnificent.
@@OhioStudiosOGyes actually. The same leitmotif is used in Shostakovich string quartet no.8 movement 2. I believe the particular name for it was the “jewish wedding song” leitmotif. There are many videos that go into detail about the movement, and I suggest you check one out. They are very entertaining and informative
Not knowing much about playing instruments, I am gonna guess that this piece is pretty difficult to play with all those dynamics, high synchronized notes etc..
I've performed this piece a few times. I'm a 'cellist. There are some tricky technical bits (the opening....DUH!!) but the most difficult part is the physical stamina required to just get through the piece. I was as tired after playing this 30 minute piece as I was after playing an entire Wagner opera.
@@wllm4785 100% agree. I’m a cellist as well and my piano trio is playing the 4th movement of this with the first movement of Smetana piano trio for a competition and I’m seriously stressed about my stamina lol
Quelle fougue ! Quelle passion ! Quels artistes !... Une œuvre superbe, trop peu jouée, aussi attachante que le trio de Ravel. (Il semble toutefois, quand Mme Argerich salue à la fin, qu'elle soit bien fatiguée - ou contrariée ?...)
Big loving hug awesome music stars that are so good to make of our lives a better place, never stop believe in, Glory the Lord we are lucky survivors, music saved our lives from losing minds for good, wishing invisible cyber audience connected to us to use such performances as best Christmas gift suggestions for beloved ones, we need so much this Rennaissance spirit, turn back to live again
Gosh my tastes are weird… just came from ravel piano trio in a and i cant tell which one i like more 😂. My tastes should just be defined as good music - which has no true form.
Da musicista mi chiedo spesso quanto un artista entri in un suo mondo lontano da questo inferno nell astrazione della musica trova le sue più intime emozioni…
