The self-interested cabal that has controlled the legacy of the Second Viennese School has barely conceded that this music exists, but the fact is that, faced with mounting bills at his Society for Musical Private Performances during the ruinous inflation of the early '20s, Arnold Schoenberg organized a concert of arrangements of music by Johann Strauss (the younger) and opened it to the public in order to raise money, defensively pointing out that Brahms, too, liked Strauss waltzes. His proteges, Berg and Webern, were drafted to arrange one waltz each, with Berg snaring the familiar Wein, Weib, und Gesang, Op. 418 (Wine, Women, and Song), and Schoenberg contributed a pair.

'Two rarely performed piano trios by Sylvio Lazzari and Wilhelm Kienzl form the core of this CD. Lazzari’s Piano Trio op. 13 is characterized by a passionate tone and displays the composer’s dramatic talent; like Kienzl, Lazzari would later become first and foremost an opera composer. Sylvio Lazzari was known for his skillfully crafted, sonorous music. In comparison with Lazzari’s work, the piano trio by Wilhelm Kienzl is even more melodic and full of verve, even if it is also more conventional – which is not surprising since it is by a twenty-three-year-old student. His piano trio is full of youthful freshness. At times Kienzl’s music exhibits flowing structures reminiscent of Schubert, and a hint of salon music wafts through the piece. À propos: Wilhelm Jeral’s »Sérénade Viennoise,« arranged for piano trio, is presented as a charming encore. This musical gem with »Wiener Schmäh,« as irresistible as a slice of plum cake with whipped cream on top, is congenially brought to the musical table!'