Serenade for Flute, Violin and Viola in D major, Op. 25

This is Beethoven in holiday mood, a side of him that gets almost entirely overshadowed by the stormy titan of the symphonies, and it is utterly disarming. Written in his mid-twenties, the piece floats through six short movements with the lightness of an outdoor entertainment, more likely to make you think of candlelit gardens than concert halls. Many listeners hear it as a window into the young Beethoven who loved to dance, joke, and charm before the world decided he had to be heroic.

What to listen for

Notice how the flute and violin weave around each other in the opening march, sometimes in unison, sometimes in playful opposition, while the viola hums a quiet foundation beneath them. The slow middle movement has a particular intimacy, the melodic line passed back and forth as if the three instruments are finishing each other's sentences. Then, just when you expect it least, a brisk little minuet arrives and the whole texture becomes almost impishly light on its feet.

Recommended recording

The period-instrument ensemble Florilegium, with Ashley Solomon on flute, brings a natural, unhurried grace to this piece that suits its conversational character well.

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