Album

Although it is not listed as an official subtitle of the album, the liner notes refer to the program on this Hänssler Classic album as "A Contemplation of Fairy Tales and Fates." This is actually a great way of tying these Czech chamber works together, from Dvorák's perennial, dramatic "Dumky" Trio to Janácek's aptly titled Fairy Tale for cello and piano, to the passionate, despairing Suk Elegy. Of course, capturing all of the different emotions and scenes found in these works is no small order. The Dumky Trio, which has been played and recorded by the vast majority of extant string trios, thrives on contrast: emotional, temporal, dynamic. The Dresdner Klaviertrio delivers these contrasts in abundance. While some trios performing this work fail to differentiate tempos between sections, Dresdner almost takes it too far in the other direction. While the fast sections are appropriately vigorous, the slow sections walk the fine line of being too slow and pedantic. The remainder of the program, which may be less familiar to some listeners, is just as passionate and maybe even more engaging. Cellist Peter Bruns and violinist Kai Vogler deliver colorful, evocative performances of Janácek's Pohádka and Violin Sonata, the latter perhaps being the most striking and engaging on the album. The trio closes with a controlled and not-too-dramatic reading of Suk's little-played Elegy. The trio's sound quality is nicely blended with plenty of power, nuance, and variety of tone. Intonation and other technical elements are well-executed.

© Mike D. Brownell, All Music Guide

CD 1
Antonín (Leopold) Dvořák Composer Piano Trio in E-, Op.90 ('Dumky') Work 30:32 Dresdner Klaviertrio Piano Trio, Carlo Tononi Cello Maker
1	1.Lento maestoso. Allegro	4:21			$0.99
2	2.Poco adagio. Vivace non troppo	6:30			$0.99
3	3.Andante. Vivace non troppo	5:45			$0.99
4	4.Andante moderato (quasi tempo di marcia). Allegretto scherzando	5:08			$0.99
5	5.Allegro	3:52			$0.99
6	6.Lento maestoso. Vivace	4:56			$0.99
Leoš Janáček Composer Pohádka (Fairy Tale; 'The Story of Tsar Berendyey'), for cello and piano, JW 7/5 Work 11:33 Roglit Ishay Piano, Peter Bruns Cello, Carlo Tononi Cello Maker
7	1.Con moto. Andante	5:08			$0.99
8	2.Con moto. Adagio	4:01			$0.99
9	3.Allegro	2:24			$0.99
Leoš Janáček Composer Violin Sonata, JW 7/7 Work 17:38 Kai Vogler Violin, Roglit Ishay Piano
10	1.Con moto	5:24			$0.99
11	2.Ballada: Con moto	4:50			$0.99
12	3.Allegretto	2:20			$0.99
13	4.Adagio	5:04			$0.99
Josef Suk Composer Elegie for Piano Trio, Op.23 Work Kai Vogler Violin, Roglit Ishay Piano, Peter Bruns Cello, Carlo Tononi Cello Maker
14	Elegie for Piano Trio, Op.23	6:26			$0.99