Trio Khaldei: Shostakovich & Prokofiev Trio Khaldei

• Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975): Piano Trio No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 8:
• 1 Piano Trio No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 8 12:54
• Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67:
• 2 Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67: I. Andante 08:07
• 3 Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67: II. Allegro con brio 02:53
• 4 Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67: III. Largo 06:09
• 5 Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67: IV. Allegretto 10:54
• Sergueï Prokofiev (1891 - 1953): Ballade for Cello and Piano in C Minor, Op. 15:
• 6 Ballade for Cello and Piano in C Minor, Op. 15 10:24
• 5 Melodies for Violin and Piano, Op. 35:
• 7 5 Melodies for Violin and Piano, Op. 35: I. Andante 02:07
• 8 5 Melodies for Violin and Piano, Op. 35: II. Lento, ma non troppo 02:29
• 9 5 Melodies for Violin and Piano, Op. 35: III. Animato, ma non allegro 03:44
• 10 5 Melodies for Violin and Piano, Op. 35: IV. Allegretto leggero e scherzando 01:13
• 11 5 Melodies for Violin and Piano, Op. 35: V. Andante non troppo 03:05
• Total Runtime 01:03:59

Info for Trio Khaldei: Shostakovich & Prokofiev

Shostakovich (1906-75) composed his two Piano Trios in 1923 and 1944 respectively. The works are diametrically opposed in almost every way.

The Piano Trio No. 1 Op. 8 is one of Shostakovich’s true early works (written when he was just 17!) and is filled with the romanticism and passion of the composer’s first amorous encounter. This short, one-movement piece contains many features characteristic of Shostakovich’s later works, such as snatches of humour, agitated piano passages, persistent chordal passages and sometimes uncomfortable dissonances but these give way to two extended melodies juxtaposing lyricism and exasperated anticipation, usually introduced by the cello before being taken up by the violin.

Little of this romantic vigour remains in the Piano Trio No.2 Op. 67, a product not of love, but of war. The listener needs only to compare the opening bars of the two works to hear the contrast: the full sound of the cello in the first is markedly different from the fragile and barely audible introduction, played by the cello in harmonics, to the second trio. It would be di cult for a stringed instrument to produce a thinner sound.

Trio Khaldei:
Barbara Baltussen, piano
Pieter Jansen, violin
Francis Mourey, cello

The Khaldei Trio
brings together Barbara Baltussen (piano), Pieter Jansen (violin) and Francis Mourey (cello), three musicians with a passion for chamber music and, more specifically, the unique sonority of the piano trio.

Since its first concert in 2011, the Khaldei Trio has developed from a young, promising ensemble to a crowd favourite on Belgium’s biggest stages. In 2013, the trio was one of the six ensembles nominated for the first edition of the Supernova competition. Over the last few years, the trio has performed in many cultural centres throughout the country, in prestigious venues such as the Centre for Fine Arts (Brussels), AMUZ (Antwerp), De Bijloke (Ghent) and the Concertgebouw in Bruges, as well as at numerous festivals in Belgium and abroad, including the Ghent Festival of Flanders, Festival 20/21, En Avant Mars, the Spectrum Festival (Slovenia) and the Arsana Festival (Slovenia). The trio has also recorded for Belgian stations Canvas (television) and Klara (radio) and the Slovenian National Radio.

The Khaldei Trio has a particular affinity for Russian music from the first half of the 20th Century, especially music by Shostakovich. The trio’s namesake, Evgueni Khaldei, was official photographer of the Stalin regime, and created striking portraits of all the great Russian artists of the time. The search for truth, authenticity and the nuances brought by this photographer to difficult moments throughout his life are a great source of inspiration for the trio.

The Khaldei Trio likes to bring together music from times past and present in its programs, introducing the public to music by lesser-known composers as well as the great masters. The program Debuts offers trios by Gaspar Cassadó and Gillis Sacré together with Shostakovich and Sibelius. In the program WWI, Debussy’s sonatas and Ravel’s masterly trio accompany a magnificent trio by Enesco.

Belgian music also occupies a special place in the Khaldei Trio’s repertoire. Works by Jongen, Celis, Van Landeghem and Brewaeys are to be found on the trio’s music stands. In March 2015, as part of the two concerts that the trio gave during the En Avant Mars festival in Bijloke (Ghent), the trio played an entirely Belgian program, in which works by Buckinckx and Swerts featured alongside premières of works by Ruben De Gheselle, Mirek Coutigny and Gillis Sacré.

Booklet for Trio Khaldei: Shostakovich & Prokofiev