ALLAN PETTERSSON (1911-1980)
Concerto for violin and string quartet (1949)
Two elegies (1934)
Sonata Nos. 2, 3 and 7 for two violins
Romance for violin and piano (1942)
Andante expressivo for violin and piano (1938)
Yamei Yu & Andreas Seidel, violin
Chia Chou, piano
Leipziger Streichquartett
MDG 307 1528 2
CHARLES MARIE WIDOR (1844-1937)
Trio op 19 pour violon, violoncelle et piano si bémol majeur
Soirs d’Alsace op. 52
Quatre pièces en trio pour violon et violoncelle avec accompagnement de piano
Quatre Trios pour violon, violoncelle et piano
Trio Parnassus: Yamei Yu, violin; Michael Groß, cello; Chia Chou, piano
MDG 303 1794 2
LÉON BOELLMANN (1862-1897)
Trio pour violon, violoncelle et piano op. 19
Quatuor pour violon, alto, violoncello et piano op. 10
2 Pièces pour violoncelle et piano op. 31
2 Trios pour piano, violon et violoncelle extraits des “Heures mystiques”
Trio Parnassus: Yamei Yu, violin; Michael Groß, cello; Chia Chou, piano
and Gérard Caussé, viola
MDG 303 1755 2
“ … Trio Parnassus are known for unearthing overlooked works, like the chamber music of Niels Wilhelm Gade (reviewed here), or Benjamin Godard (reviewed here), and affording them the same attention and respect otherwise reserved for the old standards. They prove once again, within this MDG recording of the chamber music of Léon Boëllmann, that pushing beyond the status quo can indeed reap rewards and expand everyone’s musical horizon.” Classical Music Sentinel, Jean Yves Duperron – July 2012
CHAUSSON – DEBUSSY – FAURÉ
ERNEST CHAUSSON (1855-1899)
Pianotrio op. 3 (1881) G Minor
CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862 1918) / Hubert Mouton (1872 1954)
Pelléas et Mélisande, Trio for piano, violin and cello
GABRIEL FAURÉ (1845 1924)
Pianotrio op. 120
Trio Parnassus: Yamei Yu, violin; Michael Groß, cello; Chia Chou, piano
MDG 303 1711 2
NIELS WILHELM GADE (1817-1890)
Trio op. 42, Noveletten op. 29, Finale a mineur,
“Adagio – Allegro con fuoco”, Scherzo for pianoquartet
Trio Parnassus: Yamei Yu, violin; Michael Groß, cello; Chia Chou, piano
MDG 303 1665 2
“And that is precisely what the Trio Parnassus, Yamei Yu (violin), Michael Gross (cello), Chia Chou (piano) and Thomas Selditz (viola in the quartet) reveal in this traversal of his chamber output for Piano Trio. In its emotional impetus, this music is a closer relative to Beethoven for example, than to Mendelssohn or Dvorak who were Gade’s contemporaries. Gade’s firm grasp of development and momentum, prevent his music from falling into the tedium of repetition like some other composers of his generation. And the excellent musicianship of this ensemble enables them to impose their own emotive perspective on this characterful music.” Classical Music Sentinel, Jean-Yves Duperron – March 2011
BENJAMIN GODARD (1849-1895)
Complete Piano Trios
Trio op. 32 for violin, cello and piano G minor
Trio op. 72 for violin, cello and piano F major
Berceuse de Jocelyn
Trio Parnassus
Yamei Yu, violin; Michael Gross, cello; Chia Chou, piano
MDG 303 1615 2
“They play as if they were one organic entity and seem to react instantly and accordingly to each other’s actions. Not only have they recorded the great Piano Trios of Beethoven and Mozart, but they also devote much energy at seeking out and recording obscure or neglected works in the genre by Vasks, Turina and Reger, to name but a few. This recording is a great example of just that. The chamber music of Benjamin Godard is excellent and more rewarding than similar works by better known composers. It carries within itself the trademarks of the 19th century and demonstrates the pinnacle of the genre typical of the times.” Classical Music Sentinel, Canada – Jean-Yves Duperron
ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD (1897-1957)
Trio op. 1 for violin, cello and piano D major
Suite op. 23 for 2 violins, cello and piano (left hand)
Trio Parnassus
Yamei Yu, violin; Michael Gross, cello; Chia Chou, piano
& Matthias Wollong, violin (5 9)
MDG 303 1463 2
“ … Ici encore, l’interprétation des Parnassus est exquise. Tour à tour fougueuse et sensible, intime et puissante, elle éclaire d’une lumière vive la riche inventivité de cette partition étonnante.” Diapason, 11/2007
“… Suffice to say that it receives a marvelous interpretation from the Trio Parnassus who play with superb co-ordination and a crispiness which is rather infecttious.” www.classical.net, 2008
“This recording is a true marvel!“ Fanfare, Jan/Feb. 2008
PRINZ LOUIS FERDINAND VON PREUSSEN (1772-1806)
Complete Piano Trios Vol. 2
Trio op. 3 E flat major
Quartet op. 6 F minor
Trio Parnassus
Yamei Yu, Violine; Michael Groß, Violoncello; Chia Chou, Klavier
& Thomas Selditz, viola
MDG 303 1361 2
“The Echo Klassik Award and the German Record Critics’ Prize acknowledge the consummate achievements of these truly exceptional and inspiring musicians, who have long since found their place on Parnassus” MDG
PRINZ LOUIS FERDINAND VON PREUSSEN (1772-1806)
Complete Piano Trios Vol. 3
Andante with Variationen op. 4 for piano, violin, viola and cello B flat major
Quartet op. 5 for piano, violin, viola and cello E flat major
Larghetto op. 11 for piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass G major
Trio Parnassus
Yamei Yu, violin; Michael Gross, cello; Chia Chou, piano
& Thomas Selditz, viola and Stanislau Anishchanka, double bass
MDG 303 1549 2
FELIX MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY (1809-1847)
Complete String Quartets Vol. 4
Quartet E flat major and Octet op. 20
Leipziger Streichquartett
& Yamei Yu, violin
& Matthias Wollong, violin
& Hartmut Rohde, viola
& Michael Sanderling, violoncello
MDG 307 1057 2
“… exzellentes Niveau.” Fono Forum
“With fine, natural recorded sound and playing of such quaiity, this promises to be a distinguished Mendelssohn series.” Gramophone
ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Complete Piano Quartets
Quartet op. 47 E flat major and Quartet C minor (1829)
Trio Parnassus
Yamei Yu, violin; Michael Groß, violoncello; Chia Chou, piano
& Hariolf Schlichtig, viola
CD: MDG 303 1414 2
SACD: MDG 903 1414 6
„a thoroughly convinced, and convincing, performance.” International Record Review, 09/2006
“Classy, assured and impeccably recorded, these performances of the underrated E flat (1844) and early, incomplete C minor quartets could hardly be bettered” Classis FM
“and the performances is strongly committed” BBC Music Magazin
PETERIS VASKS (geb. 1946)
Episodi e canto perpetuo (1985)
Quartet for violin, viola, violoncello and piano (2000/2001)
Trio Parnassus
Yamei Yu, violin; Michael Gross, cello; Chia Chou, piano
& Avri Levitan, viola
CD: MDG 303 1513 6
SACD: MDG 903 1513 6
“… Performances by the German ensemble Trio Parnassus, as well as by Israeli violist Avri Levitan in the Quartet, are superbly committed and vibrant, and MDG, as usual, captures them in rich, natural sound” Fanfare, 17. November 2008
“ … Trio Parnassus and Avri Levitan provide sterling accounts of both works.” International Record Review, 11/2008
“Marvellously recorded by MDG, the Trio Parnassus give a highly persuasive account…” Gramophone, 1/2009
Nominated for the BBC Classical Award