Richard Stöhr (1874-1967) was born in Vienna. His father insisted that he study medicine and Stöhr only formally studied music after receiving an M.D. He entered the Vienna Academy of Music and studied composition with Robert Fuchs receiving a doctorate in 1903. He immediately obtained a teaching position at the Academy and was appointed a professor of composition in 1915, a position he held until 1938. Although Stöhr steadily composed throughout these years, he was better known as an expert on music theory, having written a well received text on the subject. In 1938, he was forced to flee Austria because of the Nazi takeover. He emigrated to the United States. There, he obtained a similar position at the Curtis Institute of Music. Among his many students were Leonard Bernstein, Erich Leinsdorf, Herbert von Karajan, Erich Zeisl, and Samuel Barber.
Stöhr’s Piano Trio No.1 dates from 1905. The opening movement, Allegro moderato, is gentle and lyrical. The second movement, Andante ,offers a series of seven variations on a March theme and while some of the faster ones are urgent, and indeed in one case stormy, the main impression remains one of airy and lyric geniality. The ghostly Scherzo which follows creates a sense of nostalgia. The finale begins with Grave introduction which leads to the main section, Allegro grazioso.
This fine example of a late Romantic era piano trio belongs in the concert hall where it would certainly make a strong impression but can also be recommended to experience amateur players.
