Piano Trio no. 2 in D minor op. 34

Louise Farrenc’s second piano trio was completed in November 1844, according to the manuscript, which means that it was composed shortly after she was appointed professor of piano at the Paris Conservatoire. The premiere appears to have taken place not long afterwards: the Revue et Gazette musicale de Paris of 2 February 1845 mentions a musical evening organised at the composer’s home, during which opus 34 was performed with her Trio no. 1, op. 33: “two masterpieces of elegance and grace”. Neither work was made available to the public for several years, however. Their recent publication was not mentioned until November 1852 when, in the same weekly musical revue, Adrien de La Fage wrote: “The forms are consistently elegant: no extravagance in the rhythmic combination, no uncertainty in the harmony, no disorder in the sequence of ideas; everything flows and connects as in a well-written speech, but with a style that is perhaps sometimes a little too academic.” Indeed, following in Reicha’s footsteps and in keeping with her favoured aesthetic, Louise Farrenc does not cater to the French taste for dramatic expression, but instead makes reference to Viennese classicism and the works of Beethoven. A concern for balance and complementarity in the instrumental parts is felt throughout this three-movement score (Trio no. 1 was in four).The second movement theme and variations provide a perfect showcase for her skills.