It is curious that only a few Classical string trios survive as celebrated works for today s performers and audiences. These are Beethoven's Op.9 set of three trios, the two youthful works of Schubert, and the grand 6- movement Divertimento in E-flat by Mozart, notably the sole representative from the 18th century. All are truly masterful works, frequently performed and recorded, but which naturally beg the question: Is this really all there is? A little research quickly unearthed a whole history of string trios from many of the 18th century's most prolific and eminent composers. Those represented on this CD alone collectively contributed upwards of 200 works, exhibiting an extraordinary variety of textures and expressions, as well as astonishing instrumental techniques.

Giuseppe Cambini has had a bad press for almost two centuries: Mozart told tales of his jealousy and intrigue, and the sheer size of his output – at least 600 instrumental works, a dozen operas, and more – has prompted further suspicion (there is nothing worse than being facile). He composed almost as many string quintets as Boccherini (with whom he played as a young man) and even more quartets, and he wrote nearly 100 works in the fashionable Parisian form of the time, the symphonie concertante.