Piano Trio in D Major, “Ghost,” Op. 70, No. 1

Composer: BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van
  • Beethoven wrote Piano Trio in D Major, “Ghost,” for violin, cello, and piano in 1808. The piece consists of three movements:
    1. Allegro vivace e con brio
    2. Largo assai ed espressivo
    3. Presto1
  • For context, Piano Trio in D Major, “Ghost,” was written between the composition of Symphonies Nos. 6 and 7.
  • The “Ghost” nickname comes from the “Largo” second movement, which evokes a visceral sense of eerie tension and ominous gloom.
    • Fun fact: Beethoven recycled the opening theme of this movement to represent the Witches in a potential Macbeth opera.2
  • The work is dedicated to Countess Anna Maria von Erdödy, a Hungarian noblewoman who was a friend and patron of Beethoven. Beethoven wrote the trio while living with Erdödy.3

Sources

  1. “Piano Trio in D major, Op.70 No.1 (Beethoven, Ludwig van),” IMSLP, accessed July 16, 2026, https://imslp.org/wiki/Piano_Trio_in_D_major,_Op.70_No.1_(Beethoven,_Ludwig_van).
  2. Richard Wigmore, Notes in accompanying booklet, Beethoven: The Complete Music for Piano Trio, Vol. 1 performed by The Florestan Trio, Hyperion 67327, 2003, compact disc.
  3. Emily E. Hogstad, “Countess Anna Maria Erdődy: Beethoven’s Beloved Patroness and Roommate,” Interlude (2025), accessed July 16, 2026, https://interlude.hk/countess-anna-maria-erdody-beethovens-beloved-patroness-and-roommate/.

Cut IDs

41962 42825 44783 28594