Piano Trio No. 2 (Shostakovich)


The Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, for violin, cello and piano, Op. 67, by Dmitri Shostakovich was written in 1944, during World War II.

Composition history

The composition was dedicated to Shostakovich's good friend, Ivan Sollertinsky, a Russian polymath and avid musician, who had recently died aged 41. The work received its premiere in Leningrad on 14 November 1944. The piece consists of four movements, with a complete performance running 25 to 27 minutes.

Structure

The Jewish melody from the last movement was quoted in Shostakovich's famous String Quartet No. 8. The third movement is featured in choreographer John Neumeier's ballet "The Seagull".

Recordings