BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert: Trio Wanderer

The second of Shostakovich's Piano Trios was written in the summer of 1944 in the midst of World War II. It was composed in memory of a close friend but, like many of Shostakovich’s works, seems to comment more broadly, suggesting an elegy for all of the victims of war.

Vitebsk is based on a Jewish folk song, and it was Copland's intention to reflect the harshness and drama of Jewish life in Russia. Artist Marc Chagall was also from Vitebsk and often pictured it in grotesque paintings; Copland dubbed the middle section of his new piano trio as a ‘Chagall-like grotesquerie’.

Suk's Elegie was written for the anniversary of the death of writer Julius Zeyer. His work was directly influenced by his 40 years as a violinist in the Czech Quartet.