Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Trios, Opp. 49 & 66 Fournier Trio

• Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49
• 1 I. Molto allegro agitato 10:05
• 2 II. Andante con moto tranquillo 06:13
• 3 III. Scherzo 04:07
• 4 IV. Finale 09:04
• Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66
• 5 I. Allegro energeico e con fuoco 11:11
• 6 II. Andante espressivo 06:16
• 7 III. Scherzo 03:54
• 8 IV. Finale 08:33
• Total Runtime 59:23

Info zu Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Trios, Opp. 49 & 66

International award-winning young piano trio the Fournier Trio make their Resonus Classics debut with a fresh and exciting new recording of the late C minor (Op. 49) and D minor (Op. 66) piano trios by one of the most significant composers of chamber music in the nineteenth century, Felix Mendelssohn.

The Fournier Trio bring new life and vitality to these two trios, Mendelssohn’s only output in the genre, that arguably represent the very pinnacle of his select chamber output.

Fournier Trio:
Sulki Yu, violin
Pei-Jee Ng, cello
Chiao-Ying Chang, piano

Fournier Trio
Formed in 2009, the internationally award-winning Fournier Trio has rapidly established itself as one of the leading young chamber ensembles in the UK. Described by Classical Source as having "awesome but restrained technical ability and chamber-music antennae", they were winners of the prestigious 2013 Parkhouse Award at Wigmore Hall, finalists at Hamburg in 2012 and were recipients of 2nd Prize and Audience Prize at the 6th Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition in 2011. The trio has made critically acclaimed debuts at both the Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room in London and in 2012 embarked on its first European Tour after their selection for 'New Masters on Tour' at the International Holland Music Sessions, culminating with their debut at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw.

The Trio made appearances at major UK festivals including the Bath International Music Festival, Newbury Spring Festival, Chichester Festivities, Brighton, Lamberhurst and Devizes Festivals and toured Scotland extensively as part of their Tunnell Trust Award. Abroad they made regular visits to the Trondheim International Music Festival, in 2010 performing Faure's Piano Quartet No.2 with Lawrence Power and in 2012 collaborating with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in a performance of his Piano Trio in addition to giving masterclasses. Last season their performances included three major London recitals at St John's Smith Square, Purcell Room and Wigmore Hall, a live performance for BBC Radio 3's 'In Tune', and their first visit to the Far East making debuts and masterclasses at Singapore's Yong Siew Toh Conservatory 'Ones to Watch' Series, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and the brand new Eslite Performance Hall in Taipei.

David Takeno has been a continuous influence on the Trio's development since the formation of the ensemble. During the Trio's founding years they were Leverhulme Chamber Music Fellows at the Royal Academy of Music where they worked with renowned pedagogues Thomas Brandis, Christopher Elton, Michael Dussek and Sung-Won Yang in addition to their duties as mentors to student chamber groups. They have participated in masterclasses by Ralph Kirshbaum, Gabor Takacs-Nagy, Susan Tomes, Leif Ove Andsnes, Daniel Hope and Martin Lovett. Since 2011 the Fournier Trio has been 'Artist-in-Residence' at Oxford University's Wolfson College where they continue to perform recitals and conduct masterclasses.

Committed to expand the piano trio repertoire, the Trio has premiered new trios by leading British composers Gary Carpenter, Hugh Wood, Timothy Salter and Daniel Kidane. This season the trio looks forward to releasing two albums. The first for USK Recordings, which includes Timothy Salter's Piano Trio alongside the Faure and Ravel Trios, and the second with Resonus Classics featuring the Mendelssohn Piano Trios.

The Fournier Trio is grateful to Wolfson College Oxford University, Royal Academy of Music, Kirckman Concert Society, Park Lane Group and Philharmonia Orchestra MMSF for their generous support.

Booklet für Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Trios, Opp. 49 & 66