Visitors to Prague
might be quite surprised to notice how
much more the people of the Czech Republic
appear to revere their nationalist composer,
Smetana, more than their internationally
better-known composer, Dvořák.
Smetana has a museum in a prominent
riverside location,
while Dvořák’s museum is tucked
away in a not very imposing street.
Very few chamber works
by Smetana have survived: two string
quartets (one of them, the well-known
one in E minor "From My Life"),
two duos for violin and piano and this
Trio in G minor, op. 15. It is said
that he composed his chamber works in
times of exceptional emotional turmoil.
This Trio was composed at the time when
Smetana’s family suffered three deaths:
his two-year-old daughter, Gabriela,
then, three months later, he lost his
four-and-a-half-year-old Bedřěška
and then little Kateřinka died
at only seven and a half months. The
Trio was meant as an elegy for the musically
gifted Bedřěška. The
tragedy is manifest in the music. The
powerful opening movement is deeply
affecting especially the second theme
given to
the cello. It was Bedřěška’s
favourite tune. Balancing the pathos
is sharply defiant material as though
the composer was shaking a furious fist
at the fates. The second forlorn movement
is pained with brief brighter interludes.
The finale, at first, races along, full
of agitation before halting piano chords
introduce a poignancy, melody that,
in the hands of the Ad Trio Prague,
wrenches at the heart. Throughout, these
players deliver an edgy, emotionally-charged
performance, so sympathetic to the composer’s
grief.
Dvořák’s
Dumky Trio
is, in comparison, lighter and much
sunnier, and the Ad Trio Prague rejoice
in its vivacity. Unusually, the work
is conceived in six movements or six
Dumkas as the writer of the album’s
notes suggests. They are similar to
Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances
but differ in form. All are beautifully
melodic with tunes that imprint themselves
on the memory; the emotion and warmth
mostly given to the cello. Introspection
or wistful longing is contrasted with
lively, hedonistic dance material.
An intelligent pairing
and most persuasive performances.
Ian Lace
Ad Trio Prague 
