Antonín Dvořák; Josef Suk; Bedřich Smetana - Dumky (Trio Pascal)

Information

Composer: Antonín Dvořák; Josef Suk; Bedřich Smetana

• Dvořák - Piano Trio No. 4 "Dumky", Op. 90
• Suk - Elegy for Violin, Cello and Piano, Op. 23
• Smetana - Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 15

Trio Pascal

    Denis Pascal, piano

    Alexandre Pascal, violin

    Aurélien Pascal, cello

Date: 2025

Label: La Musica

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Denis Pascal and his sons Alexandre and Aurélien present a deeply connected family interpretation of Czech chamber music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period when national composers began forging an identity independent of German influence. Their program highlights works enriched by Czech melodic and rhythmic character. Smetana’s Trio op. 15, written in grief after his daughter’s death, blends darkness with distinctly national colors. Dvořák’s “Dumky” Trio intensifies this expressive, folk-inspired spirit with striking emotional range and structural mastery. Josef Suk’s Elegy, composed in memory of his brother, offers a reflective, almost impressionistic atmosphere that complements the program’s tone.

The Pascal family—Denis and his sons Alexandre and Aurélien—makes music a true family affair. Denis Pascal, an esteemed pianist and chamber musician, is a leading teacher at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris and has launched a notable cycle of Schubert recordings. Cellist Aurélien Pascal, a Feuermann International Competition Grand Prize winner, performs worldwide and earned critical acclaim for his 2019 CD All’Ungarese. Violinist Alexandre Pascal, an ADAMI Classical Revelation laureate, honed his craft with Olivier Charlier and Augustin Dumay and performs internationally. Their 2021 debut recording as Trio Pascal, featuring Schubert Trios op. 99 and 100, highlights their extraordinary familial musical synergy and intuitive ensemble cohesion.