Piano Trio No. 1 (Dvořák)

The Piano Trio No. 1 in B♭ major, Op. 21 (B. 51), is a piano trio by Antonín Dvořák, completed in 1875.^[1] It is the first out of the four surviving piano trios, preceded by two works from 1871 to 1872 that Dvořák destroyed (B. 25 and B. 26).^[2]

Structure

The composition consists of four movements in the classical tradition:

1. Allegro molto (B♭ major)
2. Adagio molto e mesto (G minor)
3. Allegretto scherzando (E♭ major) — Trio (B major)
4. Finale. Allegro vivace (B♭ major)

Performance can vary from 31 to 37 minutes.^[2]

History

The piano trio was written in the spring of 1875; the autograph dates the completion date to 14 May 1875. The premiere was held on 17 February 1877 at a concert in Prague.^[2]

• Suk Trio (2001, recorded 1977): Dvořák: Complete Piano Trios, Supraphon 3545.^[3]