August 2, 2022

Laura Netzel: Piano Trio Op. 78

Laura Netzel (1839 - 1927) was a Finnish-born Swedish composer, pianist, conductor and concert organizer who sometimes used the pseudonym "N. Lago." She was born in Finland, and was proud of her Finnish heritage, even though she was just one year old when she moved permanently to Stockholm. During the 1860’s, Netzel studied piano and voice in Stockholm, making her debut at age seventeen and having a performance career of nearly forty years. During the 1880’s, Netzel studied composition in Paris. Netzel was active in social causes, and her career as a composer was a way for her to raise funds for local hospitals and aid homeless women and children.


Laura Netzel published over seventy works, including five pieces for choir, three piano trios, eleven pieces for violin and piano, eight piano solos, one piece for organ and nearly forty songs. She was inspired by Wagner's chromatic style.

The Piano trio Op 78 is played by the Trio Lago, consisting of Mirka Malmi, violin, Iida-Vilhelmiina Sinivalo, violoncello, and Tiina Karakorpi, piano. The three movements are Allegro moderato, Andante tranquillo and Allegro deciso.