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The years 1807 to 1809, when Lou Beethoven was 37 thru 39, were years devoted to chamber music and in which he had no symphonies on the boards. He published two trios for piano, violin and cello as his Opus 70, and the two pieces had very different characteristics. The second in E-flat was relaxed, and the first in D was a tense, concentrated piece, known as the “Ghost” Trio because of its spooky second movement.
It opens with a short movement in sonata format that shows the stop-and-start technique of Lou’s middle period. Remember your lessons about sonata format! The audience applauds at the end of the movement, which is a no-no.
The second movement in D minor is one of the monuments of Beethoven’s composition. It’s spooky, bleak, dissonant and very cold. As the longest movement of the trio, it forms the center of gravity for the piece. Those chromatic drops on the piano at the end is like somebody walking on your grave.
The short finale is a rondo that dispels the gloom.
This is a historic video of a 1992 Paris concert that features three giants of the repertory: Stern, Ax and Ma.