Piano Trio No. 7 in B-flat major, Op. 97 'Archduke', Op. 97
by Ludwig van Beethoven
Dedicated to Beethoven's patron Archduke Rudolph, the Archduke Trio of 1811 is widely regarded as the greatest piano trio ever written. Its vast four-movement design — culminating in one of the most sublime sets of variations in the chamber music repertoire — achieves an unprecedented emotional depth and architectural scale. The famous 1827 performance by Ignaz Schuppanzigh, with Beethoven himself at the piano, was reportedly distressing to hear as his deafness had become total.
Editions
G. Henle Verlag
Hans-Werner Küthen, 1979
Definitive Urtext edition based on the autograph and first edition; preferred by chamber ensembles worldwide.
Bärenreiter
Jonathan Del Mar, 2007
New critical edition with full critical commentary and urtext text.
Breitkopf & Härtel
Complete Works Edition, 1862
Part of the complete Beethoven works edition; historically significant.