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Jeux de Couleurs

Jeux de Couleurs

Trio Khaldei

Cat No:

EPRC 0049

Release date:

7/4/23

Barcode:

0608917723625


The idea of the 'Jeux de Couleurs' recording came to us when we thought of combining Frits Celis' trio with one of the greatest works of the chamber music repertoire, Ravel’s Piano Trio, and an arrangement of Debussy's 'La mer' by Sally Beamish. Combining well - and lesser- known pieces, performing vast orchestral works in the smaller context of the piano trio, and searching for nuance and colours are recurrent themes in our musical choices.

The music on the present recording fully embraces the contrasting sonorities of piano and strings. The two works by Debussy and Ravel, in particular, transcend the boundaries of the piano trio genre in similar ways, albeit from different perspectives. Maurice Ravel, ever conscious of the challenges posed by this particular formation, adopts an almost orchestral approach to the piano trio. In turn, Frits Celis combines subtle, impressionistic colours with a powerful rhythmic drive. Sally Beamish’s arrangement of Debussy’s La mer, on the other hand, successfully condenses Debussy’s brilliant orchestral writing without sacrificing any of its expressive power.

Throughout the entire programme, each instrument brings its full range of possibilities to these games of colours (‘Jeux de Couleurs’), a musical counterpart to Paul Klee’s graceful colour play that adorns the cover of this CD. Time and again the piano trio is truly transformed into an orchestra of three.

Tracklist

1. La Mer, L. 109 (arr by S. Beamish) - I. De l'aube à midi sur la mer - Très lent
2. La Mer, L. 109 (arr by S. Beamish) - II. Jeux de vagues - Allegro
3. La Mer, L. 109 (arr by S. Beamish) - III. Dialogue du vent et de la mer - Animé et tumultueux
4. Trio in one movement for violin, cello and piano, op. 5
5. Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in A Minor, M. 67: I. Modéré
6. Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in A Minor, M. 67: II. Pantoum - Assez vif
7. Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in A Minor, M. 67: III. Passacaille - Très large
8. Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in A Minor, M. 67: IV. Final - Animé

Reviews

Americal Record Guide

"Baltussen uses her pedal to link together longer phrases, while never cluttering the textures. Jansen and Mouray each have lyrical melodies that extend over long stretches as they shape the piece’s sonata-allegro structure. The work needs repeated hearing and bears up well under them."

Classica

"Les Belges du Trio Khaldei s’inspirent de l’énergie polyphonique des Apaches (Orchid Classics, 2014) tout en élaborant des mélanges de timbres bien à eux. Sans jamais perdre de vue la version orchestrale, la proposition permet de regarder l’œuvre sous un angle nouveau."

Gramophone

"Trio Khaldei go at it with immense verve and sweep, Pieter Jansen's violin wheeling high above the mountainous surges of Barbara Baltussen's piano."

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