Presents
Gaetano Donizetti
Piano Trio in E flat Major
The manuscript to Donizetti's Piano Trio in E flat Major bears the inscription that it is dedicated to the Betti family of Bologna, with whom he often visited for musical evenings. It is an early work dating from 1817, and as the inscription makes clear, was intended as house music. It is essentially in one movement. A brief two measure Largo introductions of unison chords leads to an engaging Allegro which sounds like a cross between early Beethoven and Mozart full of appealing melodies.
Donizetti (1797-1848) was born in Bergamo, Italy where the Donizetti Institute with the manuscript of this trio is located. He was of humble origins. His father was an assistant at the village pawnshop. In 1806, at the age of 9, he was able to attend a charitable school and there met the then famous composer, Simone Mayr, who became his mentor and lifelong friend. Donizetti is well-known, of course, as a composer for the opera. However, many will be surprised to learn that he did write a fair amount of chamber music, including 18 string quartets, some string quintets, piano trios, and an octet for winds and strings along with several other instrumental works.
While no great masterpiece, this charming work nonetheless is a worthwhile representative of the early Italian romantic movement and shows Donizetti's early development and even his budding operatic ability. It is pleasing and fun to play.
Parts $15.95
