Gaspard Trio
When it comes to the playing of Trio Gaspard, the media are unanimous about the musicians' honest and refreshing sound, with a tone that is rich, spontaneous, and communicative. The Times spoke of 'kaleidoscopic textures and a playful spirit'. The Gaspards hail from Germany, Greece, and England, and have been a trio since 2010. They are making waves from London to Shanghai. This renowned piano trio combines classical masterpieces and surprising repertoire gems with adventurous projects for new music. Their CV features a long list of recordings made for the Chandos label, showcasing a wide variety of music. Tonight, the musicians will perform Smetana, Suk, and Dvořák.
Smetana, Suk and Dvořák
Two of the three works in this program were born out of loss. Smetana wrote his Piano Trio in 1855 after the death of his four-year-old daughter—music so honest and intense that the audience at the premiere needed time to recover. Suk’s Elegy was composed shortly after the death of his father-in-law, Antonín Dvořák. Instead of grand drama, Suk chose something else: a short, restrained work that gives voice to silent mourning. Dvořák himself throws all rules overboard in his ' Dumky' Trio and presents six Slavic character pieces in which melancholy and dance go hand in hand. Together, these three works form a multifaceted and moving triptych of Czech music.