The Gould Piano Trio present their second album to be released on the Champs Hill label. This album offers the complete piano trios of Antonín Dvorák and the release is timed to conincide with a series of concerts at the Wigmore hall in which they will be performing the four trios of Dvorák together with other Czech masterpieces. In the 2011-12 season the Gould Piano Trio will celebrate its’ 20th Anniversary; an ensemble with an enviable reputation for musical integrity and imagination. The Gould Piano Trio’s first album released on Champs Hill Records, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov Piano Trios, was met with critical acclaim: "...these perforances are polished, nicely blended, and heartfelt. It would be difficult to imagine more robust, sensitive and responsive playing of the Late-Romantic works" - Music Web International First-born son of an Inn Keeper in a rural Czech village, Dvorá recieved his first violin lessions from his father. and by the age of five was able to entertain visitors at the inn with his fiddle playing. One can imagine how entertaining both guests and villagers would have encouraged Dvorák to develop his improvisatory skills and distinctive melodic invention. Given his aptitude as a practical musician, it was natural the Dvorák should have composed chamber music throughout his career and on this album the Gould Piano Trio perform all four of his Piano Trios.
"...This set comes with the highest possible recommendation."
Jerry Dubins - Fanfare - November/December 2012
Performance **** Recording **** "...there is much to enjoy in this set ..."
Jan Smaczny - BBC Music magazine - October 2012
"...The playing is very beautiful and producer and engineer Michael Ponder has recorded the group sympathetically in the Music Room at Champs Hill...Tonally, the members of the Gould Trio give consistent pleasure. Benjamin Frith clearly has a first-rate piano at his disposal and he plays it with finesse and non-showy virtuosity. Lucy Gould and Alice Neary both have beautiful, well-focused tones and play with virtually impregnable intonation, a fair amount of colour and variety of bow pressure. All three musicians observe a wide range of dynamics... I hope I have made it clear that anyone buying this Gould Trio set will be getting a fine production..." Tully Potter - ClassicalSource.com - 14 July 2012
