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Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1884) Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 15 B104 (1855) [29:28] Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90, Dumky, B 166 (1891) [32:39] Czech Trio (Milan Langer (piano), Dana Vlachova (violin), Miroslav Petras (cello)) rec. Domovina Studio Prague, 6-7 July 1999. DDD ULTRAPHON UP 0017- 2 131 [62.16]

These are two of the best known Czech trios and are here performed by a trio that must know them very well. They are both "dark" works and the background to their composition does help when getting to know them. The Smetana Piano Trio was written following the death due to scarlet fever of the composer’s three year old daughter Bedriska in 1855. During three years Smetana lost three daughters but it was Bedriska that had already shown promise. Her loss hit the composer greatly. Liszt liked the work but otherwise it was not a success and not published until 1879. All the movements are in G minor and the first is almost unrelenting in its tragic overtones. The beginning is very effective with the violin’s solo cries. Musically the format underlines the tragedy. The Czech trio has a real feeling for this music and is very effective in transmitting a sense of loss. The second movement has some lovely "Slavonic" playing from the violin and a more resigned tranquility. Lovely plaintive playing dominates the middle section before anguish returns. There is a real feeling of ensemble here and this is well captured by the engineers. The finale starts with much more energy and uses a theme from his piano sonata. However any positive feelings dissipate with funereal tones towards the end. This is beautifully played and as the piece comes to a highly charged conclusion, the trio plays as one. Not an easy listen but the piece finds splendid advocacy from the Czech players. Dvořák’s Dumky Trio is the most famous of his four piano trios and is second only to the American Quartet among his chamber music. The name Dumky comes from a Dumka which is a Ukrainian ballad; there are six in this work and therefore the six movements are more like a collection of songs, firstly slow, followed by a Slavonic dance. The first movement typifies this duality. A slow sad opening is followed by a gypsy style rondo. Likewise in the later moments we have tender and somber reflection but as always with splendid Dvořákian melodies. The Czech players clearly know this piece inside out and give a spirited performance. There are many good versions of this much loved piece but I will be very happy to pick this one from the shelves and enjoy the Czech Trio’s authentic performances. To take one example, there is marvelous interplay in the masterful Allegro. As the piece comes to a wistful but energetic conclusion we sense a real feeling of Bohemia inherent in many of Dvorak’s works. This is a well performed disc of two pieces which benefit from closer attention. I am now much more aware of the background. The Czech Trio has been in existence for a hundred years and the present combination is also soloists and teachers. David R Dunsmore   Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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