Historical Repertoire
Trio Van Hengel consists of experts in the field of Early Music and authentic performance practice. The trio has committed itself intensively to rediscovering and performing repertoire from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century for classical clarinet, cello and fortepiano. In doing so, the ensemble is predominantly breaking untread ground as they have set themselves the task of researching the entire repertoire from this period and not limiting themselves to only the works which are well known to the greater audience. The research activities of the trio have brought many masterpieces to light. They have, for example, discovered a beautiful Trio by the Dutch composer C.F. Ruppe and several works by Anton Eberl (1765-1807). Eberl was a predominant composer in his time and his works were considered equal to, or even better than, Beethoven. His works were apparently so well received that they could pass as being composed by Mozart. His Piano Sonata, op. 1 was published many times as Mozart's last great sonata. For further information regarding Trio Van Hengel's 'Eberl Project' please follow the links to the Eberl CDs.Permanent Members
Because Trio Van Hengel specifically works with the same three musicians, in contrast to many established piano trios which generally perform the well-known clarinet trios with a clarinettist who has been brought in only for that programme, the trio is specialised in the manipulation of tone colour. Sometimes the sound of the very diverse instruments melts harmoniously together, then the difference in temperament of the instruments brings precisely the contasts to the fore which the composer had in mind for his music. This is intensified by the use of historical instruments which by nature offer a wider diversity of tone colour than 'modern' instruments, through which the trio succeeds in imparting the expression in the idiom of the composer.
