Beethoven: Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 70, No. 2

The first performance of Beethoven’s Trio in E-flat major, Op. 70 No. 2, took place in December 1808 at the Vienna residence of Countess Marie Erdödy, to whom the piece is also dedicated. The intimate setting and personal dedication may explain the gentle and delicate tone that pervades its four movements. Interestingly, the work lacks a deeply emotional slow movement, replacing it with two allegrettos as its central sections.

The trio has a notably “retro” character, much like Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat major, Op. 74 (“Harp”) from 1809. It features symmetrical phrasing and ornamental piano textures, reflecting a compositional style that harks back to the classical era. The influence of Mozart and, especially, Haydn is evident, with the formal techniques of Haydn playing a significant role in shaping the work’s structure.