The Russian Album ATOS Trio

• Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975): Trio No. 2 in E minor, op. 67 (1944)
• 1 1. Satz - Andante-Moderato 07:34
• 2 2. Satz - Allegro con brio 03:04
• 3 3. Satz - Largo 05:41
• 4 4. Satz - Allegretto-Adagio 10:46
• Anton Arensky (1861–1906): Piano trio No. 1 in D minor, op. 32 (1894)
• 5 1. Satz - Allegro moderato 12:41
• 6 2. Satz - Scherzando 06:22
• 7 3. Satz - Elegia. Adagio 06:42
• 8 4. Satz - Finale. Allegro non troppo 06:24
• Sergej Rachmaninov (1873–1943): Piano trio No. 1 in G minor, op. posth.
• 9 Lento lugubre - più vivo 13:39
• Total Runtime 01:12:53

Info for The Russian Album

“Our 'French Album' is being followed here by the 'Russian Album', which could barely be more contrasting in mood. The 'French Album' is springlike and bright, whereas the 'Rus- sian Album' is sombre and melancholic for the most part. As a concert title for the 'Rus- sian Album', we chose the name of Tolstoy‘s drama 'The Light Shines in the Darkness', as all three trios contain radiant moments full of hope alongside the gloom.

Arensky and Shostakovich both dedicated their trios to the memory of friends who had passed away. Rachmaninov called his first work in this genre 'Trio élégiaque' and closed it with a funeral march, even though there was no obvious reason for doing so. Shosta- kovich’s second trio is probably the best-known work on this CD. It was written in Lenin- grad in 1944, and no listener is likely to be able to overhear the despair that prevailed at this time against the background of the Second World War.

Because of this feeling, we only play this work at the end of a concert. After all the grief, desperation, cruelty and lamenting, the very last bars in E major are pervaded by a glimmer of hope – the light that shines in the darkness.”

“Three voices – one sound: the kind of pitch-perfect unanimity of phrasing, tone, feeling and interpretation that distinguishes the finest chamber ensembles.” (Detroit Free Press)

Annette von Hehn, violin
Stefan Heinemeyer, cello
Thomas Hoppe, piano

Recorded at Siemensvilla Berlin-Lankwitz, August 2012
Mixed by Andreas Cämmerer
Editing by Sebastian Braun
Produced by Stefan Lang

The ATOS Trio (Anette - T(h)omas - Stefan)
was founded in 2003. It has now become one of the very few German chamber-music ensembles to have made its way into major concert series worldwide. Its aim is to go to the very limits of expression and dynamics, without shying from extremes. Outstanding characteristics of the ensemble are its warm, homogeneous trio sound, its variety of approaches depending on the style and epoch of the music being played, and above all the artistic communication between the players and their complete dedication to the music. For the musicians in the trio, playing in the ensemble has complete priority over any other musical activities.

Booklet for The Russian Album