Discovery in Silence and Sound: Journeys through resilience, grief, and unspoken truths
October 8, 2025
Assumption University
Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 70 No. 2 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
I. Poco sostenuto – Allegro ma non troppo
II. Allegretto
III. Allegretto ma non troppo
IV. Finale: Allegro
Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67 Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)
I. Andante — Moderato
II. Allegro con brio
III. Largo
IV. Allegretto — Adagio
Program Notes
Discovery in Silence and Sound: Journeys through resilience, grief, and unspoken truths
Tonight’s program explores two profound musical responses to the unspoken struggles of the human heart—one born of personal isolation, the other of collective grief. Through silence and sound, these trios trace paths of emotional discovery, revealing the resilience beneath sorrow and the enduring power of expression.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 70 No. 2, composed in 1808, stands at the crossroads of the composer’s extraordinary creative output and deepening personal challenges. That year saw the birth of some of his most iconic works, including the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, yet Beethoven was contending with increasing financial difficulties and the devastating progression of his deafness. Cut off from the world and struggling to communicate, he found solace and support in the household of Countess Erdödy, one of his few steadfast patrons.
This trio reflects the complexity of Beethoven’s inner life at this pivotal moment. It is music of profound intimacy and contradiction—serene melodies tinged with tension, warm lyricism shadowed by uncertainty, and sudden bursts of rhythmic energy that suggest emotional release and defiant triumph. Through these expressive contrasts, Beethoven crafts a deeply personal narrative of resilience amid isolation, revealing a spirit that continues to speak—even through silence.
Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67, written in 1944, is a haunting lament forged in the darkest hours of World War II and under the repressive weight of Stalinist rule. Shostakovich mourned the death of his close friend Ivan Sollertinsky while navigating the constant threat of censorship and political persecution. In the Soviet Union, composers risked condemnation for “formalism” if their work was deemed ideologically suspect, and this trio—interpreted by some as a veiled protest—was banned in 1948, only reappearing after Stalin’s death.
The music speaks in layers. It opens with spectral harmonics that hint at suppressed grief and unease. As the movements unfold, Shostakovich weaves together anguish, irony, and bitter satire. The final movement’s grim “Dance of Death,” infused with Jewish musical motifs, is especially charged—some believe it alludes to accounts of Jewish prisoners forced to dance on their own graves. In this multilayered expression, Shostakovich found a way to speak truth under surveillance—to honor the silenced without being silenced himself.
Together, these trios speak across time and silence. In Beethoven’s lyrical restraint and Shostakovich’s unrelenting grief, we encounter not only sorrow, but the human heart’s capacity to endure, to speak, and ultimately—to be heard.
Tonight’s program explores two profound musical responses to the unspoken struggles of the human heart—one born of personal isolation, the other of collective grief. Through silence and sound, these trios trace paths of emotional discovery, revealing the resilience beneath sorrow and the enduring power of expression.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 70 No. 2, composed in 1808, stands at the crossroads of the composer’s extraordinary creative output and deepening personal challenges. That year saw the birth of some of his most iconic works, including the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, yet Beethoven was contending with increasing financial difficulties and the devastating progression of his deafness. Cut off from the world and struggling to communicate, he found solace and support in the household of Countess Erdödy, one of his few steadfast patrons.
This trio reflects the complexity of Beethoven’s inner life at this pivotal moment. It is music of profound intimacy and contradiction—serene melodies tinged with tension, warm lyricism shadowed by uncertainty, and sudden bursts of rhythmic energy that suggest emotional release and defiant triumph. Through these expressive contrasts, Beethoven crafts a deeply personal narrative of resilience amid isolation, revealing a spirit that continues to speak—even through silence.
Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67, written in 1944, is a haunting lament forged in the darkest hours of World War II and under the repressive weight of Stalinist rule. Shostakovich mourned the death of his close friend Ivan Sollertinsky while navigating the constant threat of censorship and political persecution. In the Soviet Union, composers risked condemnation for “formalism” if their work was deemed ideologically suspect, and this trio—interpreted by some as a veiled protest—was banned in 1948, only reappearing after Stalin’s death.
The music speaks in layers. It opens with spectral harmonics that hint at suppressed grief and unease. As the movements unfold, Shostakovich weaves together anguish, irony, and bitter satire. The final movement’s grim “Dance of Death,” infused with Jewish musical motifs, is especially charged—some believe it alludes to accounts of Jewish prisoners forced to dance on their own graves. In this multilayered expression, Shostakovich found a way to speak truth under surveillance—to honor the silenced without being silenced himself.
Together, these trios speak across time and silence. In Beethoven’s lyrical restraint and Shostakovich’s unrelenting grief, we encounter not only sorrow, but the human heart’s capacity to endure, to speak, and ultimately—to be heard.
Performers
Peter Sulski, Violin www.petersulski.com
Ariana Falk, Cello. www.arianafalk.com
MiJung Trepanier, Piano www.mijungtrepanier.com
Ariana Falk, Cello. www.arianafalk.com
MiJung Trepanier, Piano www.mijungtrepanier.com