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
Czech Trio 
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