Dedicated to his friend and pupil Archduke Rudolf, Beethoven’s expansive Archduke Trio is his greatest work in the genre, though increasing deafness meant it also signalled his final appearances as a performer. The cheerful Piano Trio in E flat major is an earlier work, though only discovered amongst the composer’s papers after his death, and the Kakadu Variations is another good humoured work based on a popular song of the day. With the American Record Guide “impressed with every recording”, Volumes 1 (8557723), 2 (8557724), 3 (8570255) and 4 (8570943) are also available.

The Xyrion Trio’s cycle of Beethoven’s Piano Trios and other chamber works has already established a firm following and wide critical acclaim, with volume 3 (8570255) described as “every bit as exceptional as the first volume (8557723)” by American Record Guide, and volume 4 (8570943) as “an unqualified success” (Fanfare). This volume forms a climax for the whole series, including as it does Beethoven’s masterpiece of the genre, the Archduke Trio.