Portrait of Beethoven in 1804 Photo: Joseph Willibrord Mähler, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
In 1793, the 22-year-old Beethoven inscribed the Stammbuch (autograph album) of a Viennese merchant with the words: 'I am not wicked - hot blood is not my fault - my crime is that I am young ... Even though wildly surging emotions may betray my heart, yet my heart is good.'
This quotation from Schiller's play Don Carlos was a favourite of Beethoven, capturing his awareness of his own volatile temperament and his often-stated desire to be better, as a composer, a musician, and as a human.
His String Trio in E flat seems to be an example of such personality. It exudes confidence and humour alongside moment of ecstatic profundity.
Recorded 12 July 2020 in St Andrew's on The Terrace, Wellington by RNZ Concert
Producer: David McCaw
Engineer: Darryl Stack
