Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann

Overview

In 1814, Beethoven’s deafness was growing more severe even as his star as a composer was rising. He dedicated his “Archduke” trio to the Archduke Rudolph of Austria and played the piano part himself. While the piece was well-received, Beethoven struggled to hear his fellow musicians and compromised the performance — this was his last performance as a pianist. There isn’t a trace of introspection in the work, however, which bursts with straightforward good humor and optimism. Mozart’s Horn Quintet is similarly cheery, while Schumann’s Fantasiestücke for oboe and piano are more introspective and freeform.