Trio Lirico - the 'Treasures' album - CD Review, the 7th of February 2024

Zoltán Kodály - Intermezzo for String Trio; Ernst von Dohnányi - Serenade op. 10.

"Treasures" is the title of the album that features rarely heard "gems" from the modern and contemporary chamber music repertoire. The recordings were created in November of 2022 at the Schafstall Cultural Center from Marienmünster by Trio Lirico. The official release of the album took place on the 2nd of February at the German record label Audite.

The esteemed Trio Lirico string ensemble is made up of violinist Franziska Pietsch and violist Sophia Reuter from Germany, and the Israeli cellist Hila Karni, each having a prestigious international career. The three musicians came together for this chamber project in Germany. The group has previously released three albums featuring works from the Romantic and modern repertoire, their latest album showcasing pieces by Eugène Ysaÿe, Péter Eötvös, Ernst von Dohnányi, and Zoltán Kodály.

The most extensive piece on this album belongs to Ernst von Dohnányi, a Hungarian composer, pianist, professor, and conductor who gained prominence at the beginning of the 20th century. He composed orchestral, choral, and chamber works. From these ones, Trio Lirico chose Serenade Op. 10, a string trio, made up of five parts dating back to 1902, which intricately combines elements of Romantic aesthetics with modern musical language. The members of Trio Lirico describe it as "a masterpiece of the string trio repertoire," referring to the virtuosic nature of the fast movements and the vocal qualities of the two lyrical sections, contrasts that create remarkable timbral effects.

Another sensational element of this album is the Intermezzo for String Trio created by Zoltán Kodály, a piece written in 1905 during his youth, characterized by a relaxing atmosphere, performed with vigor, instrumental cohesion, and eloquence by Trio Lirico.