A Tale of Three Trios: Masterworks by Liszt, Saint-Saëns, and Mendelssohn

Camille Saint-Saëns: Piano Trio No. 1 in F Major, Op. 18

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Franz Liszt, arr. Saint-Saëns: “Orpheus” for piano trio

Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66

Celebrated for their genius as keyboard virtuosi, Franz Liszt and Camille Saint-Saëns were two composers with a breadth of repertoire often overlooked. What is even more surprising to many is that Liszt and Saint-Saëns were colleagues who shared a profound mutual admiration. This is so beautifully embodied in Saint-Saëns’ 1910 adaptation of Liszt’s “Orpheus” for piano trio, originally Liszt’s most glowingly contemplative symphonic poem. Coupled with Orpheus is Saint-Saëns’ first piano trio in F Major, a sparkling, richly coloured, and delightfully varied work which he wrote just before turning 30.

Mendelssohn’s celebrated C Minor Piano Trio offers the perfect response to this pair of works, exemplifying the expert classical training that Saint-Saëns’ music always exhibits, the drama Liszt was known for around the world, and the depth of expression shared by all three musical icons.