Струнное трио №2 ("Серенада") D-dur, Opus 8

Трио написано в 1796-97 гг. и опубликовано в 1797 издательством Artaria в Вене.

1. Marcia. Allegro – Adagio
2. Menuetto. Allegretto
3. Adagio – Scherzo. Allegro molto – Adagio – Allegro molto – Adagio
4. Allegretto alla Polacca
5. Thema con Variazioni: Andante quasi Allegretto – Variationen I–IV – Marcia. Allegro

Мстислав Ростропович, виолончель
Anne-Sophie Mutter, скрипка
Bruno Giuranna, альт

В 1803 году было опубликовано переложение для альта и фортепиано - Ноктюрн D-dur, Op. 42

It could be argued that the String Trio, Op. 3, and the Serenade, Op. 8 (along with the String Quintet, Op. 4), were for Beethoven little more than a laboratory for experimenting with combinations of string instruments before his eventual triumphant foray into the string quartet with Op. 18. The similarities between Op. 3 and Mozart's String Trio (Divertimento) K. 563, would lend support for this perspective. However, the string trios are in no way student works or any less important than Beethoven's extensive development of the string quartet. The two compositions heard here are a wonderful example of the exuberance of Beethoven's early writing. Although the violin is clearly favored for most of the melodic work, the viola and cello are still given plenty of intricate work, already pushing the envelope of convention.