Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1 5 Pièces brèves - Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3 Aoi Trio

• Bohuslav Martinů (1890 - 1959):
• 1 Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1, H. 193 "5 Pièces brèves": I. Allegro moderato 02:03
• 2 Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1, H. 193 "5 Pièces brèves": II. Adagio 03:40
• 3 Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1, H. 193 "5 Pièces brèves": III. Allegro 01:37
• 4 Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1, H. 193 "5 Pièces brèves": IV. Allegro moderato 01:58
• 5 Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1, H. 193 "5 Pièces brèves": V. Allegro con brio 02:28
• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904):
• 6 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 65, B. 130: I. Allegro ma non troppo 13:34
• 7 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 65, B. 130: II. Allegretto grazioso 06:55
• 8 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 65, B. 130: III. Poco adagio 10:38
• 9 Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 65, B. 130: IV. Finale. Allegro con brio 10:22
• Total Runtime 53:15

Info for Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1 5 Pièces brèves - Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3

Two Czech composers, one piano trio from each – that is the program of this recording. Not that they are contemporaries: the first composer, Antonín Dvorák (1841-1904), was born about half a century before his compatriot Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959). Both composers came from Bohemia, Dvorák from the little town of Nelahozeves on the west bank of the Vltava, Martinu from Policka in east Bohemia. And in the history of “classical” music, both of them are representatives of the National Czech School. This was a movement that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century to match similar developments in other European countries. This national dimension continued to grow up to the middle of the 20th century. The core commitment of the National Schools is to be seen in the way numerous European composers alluded in their works to the folk music of their land, bringing out national color in the sound of their music. Both Dvorák, an early representative of the Czech School, and Martinu, a late champion of Czech nationhood, pay tribute in their compositions to the popular music of their Czech homeland.

Aoi Trio

Aoi Trio
Only five times in history, the ARD international music competition has awarded the first prize for piano trios. Aoi Trio won this prestigious first prize in 2018, which made a breathtaking start to their international career.

Aoi Trio was founded in 2016 by Kyoko Ogawa (violin), Yu Ito (cello), and Kosuke Akimoto (piano), all of whom graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts and studied at the renowned Chamber Music Academy of Suntory Hall (Tokyo) for 2 years.

In the season 2019-2020 Aoi Trio toured in Japan having 21 concerts in total performing at such prestigious venues as Suntory Hall, Kioi Hall, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall and Toppan Hall. In Europe, they appeared in several cities and festivals including Munich (Herkulessaal), Bayreuth, Baden-Baden, Cologne and Musiktage Hitzacker.

Highlights of the season 2020-21 include recitals at the Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Musikverein Regensburg and numerous venues in Japan (the Phoenix Hall, Biwako Hall and others) as well as a collaboration with Sapporo Symphony Orchestra for Beethoven’s triple concerto. And they are scheduled to perform Casella’s triple concerto with Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra in December 2021.

Aoi Trio has released two recordings “Haydn No. 27 and Schubert No. 2” and “Beethoven No. 1 and Mendelssohn No. 2” which have attracted great critical acclaim. They received the Aoyama Music Award, Nippon Steel Music Award and Hotel Okura Music Award.

“Aoi” refers to the initial letters of their individual family names and is also the name of a flower in Japanese language, which is commonly known as ‘hollylock” in Europe and symbolises “aspiration” or “fruitfulness.”

Since April 2019, they are based in Germany and currently study with Dirk Mommertz (Fauré Quartett) at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich.

Booklet for Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1 5 Pièces brèves - Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3