Hyperion Records | Dvorák: Piano Trios Nos. 3 & 4

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A View of Prague by P Jankowski
Fine Art Photographic Library

CDA66895

Recording details: May 1996
Henry Wood Hall, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Andrew Keener
Engineered by Tony Faulkner
Release date: November 1996
Total duration: 67 minutes 40 seconds

GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE

'This is a wonderful disc. Another jewel in the heavily-studded Hyperion crown. A richly rewarding treat' (Classic CD)

'Musicianly and refined performances that will give much pleasure' (The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs)

'Sunny music-making' (Hi Fi News)

'An enchanting disc' (Gramophone)

Antonín Dvorák (1841-1904)

Piano Trios Nos. 3 & 4

The Florestan Trio

LISTEN TO ALL EXTRACTS

		Piano Trio in F minor, Op 65 B130
1		Movement 1: Allegro ma non troppo [13'18]
2		Movement 2: Allegretto grazioso, meno mosso [6'08]
3		Movement 3: Poco adagio [9'34]
4		Movement 4: Finale. Allegro con brio [9'52]
		Piano Trio in E minor 'Dumky', Op 90 B166
5		Movement 1: Lento maestoso – Allegro quasi doppio movimento – Lento maestoso – Allegro [3'55]
6		Movement 2: Poco adagio – Vivace non troppo – Poco adagio – Vivace [6'16]
7		Movement 3: Andante – Vivace non troppo – Andante – Allegretto [5'47]
8		Movement 4: Andante moderato, quasi tempo di marcia – Allegretto scherzando – Tempo I – Allegro – Tempo I [4'39]
9		Movement 5: Allegro [3'41]
10		Movement 6: Lento maestoso – Vivace – Lento – Vivace [4'30]

This CD introduces to disc the newly formed Florestan Trio comprising Susan Tomes, Anthony Marwood and Richard Lester, all now-familiar and highly respected artists after their many earlier recordings, both as members of other ensembles and as soloists. Miss Tomes and Mr Lester were, of course, members of the now-disbanded piano quartet Domus (which was joined by Mr Marwood in its last, award-winning recording of the two Fauré Piano Quintets on CDA66766).

The Florestan Trio takes its name from Schumann's name for himself in positive and carefree mood. (His name for his introspective self was Eusebius.)

The music is among Dvorák's most celebrated – his two most popular, but very different, piano trios. The dark and disturbing F minor is followed by the folk-inflected 'Dumky' of unconventional form and sunny disposition (a sequence of alternating slow-fast-slow-fast sections).