Bohemian Rhapsodies Trio Atanassov

• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904): Piano Trio No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 26:
• 1 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 26: I. Allegro moderato 12:22
• 2 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 26: II. Largo 06:20
• 3 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 26: III. Scherzo. Presto 06:21
• 4 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 26: IV. Allegro non tanto 06:48
• Piano Trio No. 4, Op. 90 "Dumky":
• 5 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 4, Op. 90 "Dumky": I. Lento maestoso – Allegro vivace, quasi doppio movimento 04:06
• 6 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 4, Op. 90 "Dumky": II. Poco Adagio – Vivace non troppo 06:18
• 7 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 4, Op. 90 "Dumky": III. Andante – Vivace non troppo 05:53
• 8 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 4, Op. 90 "Dumky": IV. Andante moderato (quasi tempo di marcia) 04:58
• 9 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 4, Op. 90 "Dumky": V. Allegro 04:18
• 10 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 4, Op. 90 "Dumky": VI. Lento maestoso – Vivace, quasi doppio movimento 04:52
• Josef Suk (1874 - 1935): Elegy, Op. 23:
• 11 Suk: Elegy, Op. 23 05:46
• Total Runtime 01:08:02

Info for Bohemian Rhapsodies

Welcome to our trio’s third recording! To mark the occasion, we wished to reconnect with a leading figure of the music world whom we have always held dear, a poet of endless inspiration who grew into a prominent craftsman through sheer hard work: we are of course referring to Antonín Dvořák.

We sincerely hope that you will be as delighted as we are by the variety of moods and tones in Dvořák’s music, which remains so moving in its spontaneity and its sincerity! It is the reflection of a simple man, whose strong will and sense of direction render him incorruptible, but who nevertheless spent his whole life observing the world with a child-like verve.

Truly, Dvořák’s music is so touching because it tells us, quite simply, what it means to live: to dance, to sing, to laugh, to cry... Through the works that make up Bohemian Rhapsodies shines a man with a passionate love of nature, his Czech heritage, the latest innovations of his time, the affection for his family, the company of friends…

Although Dvořák built up his own legend, it was under the influence of an ancient Czech legend, reinterpreted by the poet Julius Zeyer, that Josef Suk composed the Elegy which closes the present record. A natural way of bringing these Bohemian Rhapsodies full circle.

Bohemian Rhapsodies: In many ways, the trajectory of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s career can be likened to an astonishing success story. In typical self-made man fashion, he managed to build himself up from nothing and, quite literally, conquer America. Even the most fervent clairvoyant would not have dared to predict that the penniless child of an anonymous butcher, born in the Prague countryside in 1841 would take New York City by storm 52 years later. Indeed, his New World Symphony made him so famous that a great quantity of merchandise bearing his name could be found displayed in shop windows all around New York!

If Dvořák’s success is mainly due to his exceptional perseverance and stubbornness, the alignment of a few stars surely facilitated the emergence of this formidable talent. First of all, young Antonin clearly grew up in a fertile environment, his own father playing the zither at home. Richard Wagner once described 19th century Bohemia as “the land of the finest harp players and travelling singers”.

Bohemia was also home to the time-honoured tradition of Cantors, the schoolteacher-musicians who were active throughout the country. As well as teaching the young boy German – an indispensable tool to whoever aspired to upward mobility in Czech society under Habsburg rule – the schoolteachers and multiinstrumentalists Josef Spitz, Josef Toman and especially Antonín Liehmann would prove crucial in Dvořák’s introduction to music. ...

Trio Atanassov

Trio Atanassov
Besides winning the 2010 International Commerzbank Chamber Music Competition in Frankfurt and the 2015 “Franz Schubert and Modern Music” Competition in Graz, the Trio Atanassov has been awarded numerous other prizes in major piano trio competitions around the world, including the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition in Japan, the Trondheim International Competition in Norway, the Haydn Competition in Vienna, the Joseph Joachim International Chamber Music Competition in Weimar, the Vibrarte Competition and the FNAPEC Competition in Paris.

Although successful as soloists, the musicians decided to found the Trio in 2007, after they graduated from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. The Trio has been a member of the European Chamber Music Academy since June 2008 and has been particularly marked by the musical influence of its artistic director, Hatto Beyerle. The trio attended many other masterclasses and could get the advice of musical masters such Ferenc Rados, Menahem Pressler, Ysaye Quartet, Hagen Quartet, Jean Paul Trio, etc. The Trio Atanassov has also won recognition from the critics: "...talent, enthusiasm and an unusually strong artistic collusion." (Le Journal de Saône-et-Loire) "An always controlled interpretation, technically sure from every point of view" (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)

The Trio Atanassov is now one of France’s most prominent young ensembles, regularly touring France and throughout the rest of Europe.

The Trio released its first CD in 2013 (Smetana & Dvorak, Hänssler Classic). This recording met with great critical acclaim, was elected "France Musique's Choice", and was awarded a DIAPASON D’OR.

In 2016, the trio will be on the roads of France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy : Contemporary Music Society of Lausanne - Festival international de Colmar - Septembre Musical de l’Orne - Estivales de Musique en Médoc - Festival Estival de Trélazé - Festival du Vigan - Rencontres musicales ProQuartet ... 2017 will see the trio's debut in the Vienna's Musikverein, and the release of a new album (with the label Megadisc Classics), dedicated to the armenian composer Vache Sharafyan.

Offering a fresh outlook on the piano trio: Extending from Haydn trios to the newest works of the 21st century, the repertoire of the trio Atanassov covers a vast period of time and spreads over a wide range of musical traditions.

Emphasis is placed of course on the main works from the long history of this venerable instrumental setting (Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Dvorak, Brahms, Ravel), but the piano trio has kept fascinating composers over the years – a series of outstanding works were composed during the last decades, the strong originality of which breathed new life into the old model.

Thus, imaginative and full of personality, the trio Atanassov perpetuates and freshens up the tradition of piano trio by putting forward unique compositions that cross cultures and have their roots in the most various musical influences.

Booklet for Bohemian Rhapsodies