Kinsky Trio Prague, Prazak Quartet – Alexander Borodin – Chamber Music Vol. III (2011) [SACD / Praga Digitals – PRD/DSD 250 288]

Title: Kinsky Trio Prague, Prazak Quartet – Alexander Borodin – Chamber Music Vol. III (2011)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Praga’s third volume of Borodin’s chamber music focuses on his early works from 1850–62, likely concluding the series. These short, often unfinished pieces lack the Russian character of Borodin’s mature works, reflecting Mendelssohn and Schumann’s influence. Written for private performance, they were unpublished until long after Borodin’s death. The 22-minute Piano Trio (1862), possibly incomplete, shows Schumann and Mendelssohn echoes but lacks a finale. The 1860 Sextet, lasting eight minutes, features Mendelssohnian traits and rich textures. Two string trios from 1850, for two violins and cello, include a G-Minor Andantino with Russian folk elements. The G-Major trio, with Allegro and Andante movements, seems to lack a finale. The Serenata alla spagnola (1886), part of a collaborative quartet, uses a motif from the dedicatee’s name. Performances by the Kinsky Trio and Pražák Quartet are excellent, with vivid SACD stereo sound. Despite minor booklet errors, this disc is recommended for Borodin enthusiasts exploring his early compositions.

hraudio 

Tracklist:

1 (Trio pour piano en ré majeur – inachevé 1862) Allegro con brio 7:08
2 Romanze. Andante 8:23
3 Intermezzo. Tempo di menuetto 6:38
4 (Sextuor à cordes en ré mineur – 1860) Allegro 5:33
5 Andante 2:51
6 (Trio à cordes en sol mineur ‘Qu’ai-je fait pour te peiner ?’ 1855) Andantino 6:04
7 (Trio à cordes 2 violons, 1 violoncelle, en sol majeur 1855) Allegro 8:57
8 Andante 7:22
9 (‘Serenata alla spagnola’ pour quatuor à cordes 1886) Allegretto 2:11

Personnel:

Kinsky Trio Prague:
Lucie Sedlakova Hulova, violin
Martin Sedlak, cello
Slavka Pechocova, piano
Prazak Quartet:
Pavel Hula, violin
Vlastimil Holek, violin
Josef Kluson, viola
Michal Kanka, cello
Jan Peruska, viola

Note:

The young Kinsky Trio continues the tradition of the Czech chamber music school: that of the Suk and Guarneri Trios as much as that of the famous quartets: the Vlach and Smetana yesterday, today the Zemlinsky… and Pražák. Under the leadership of Pavel Hůla, primarius of the latter, these ‘sins of youth’ again reveal their spontaneity and native Russian lyricism, souvenirs of afternoons of chamber music in which Borodin, an amateur cellist, participated in Saint Petersburg and Europe.

Download from ausfile.com: