CPE BACH: Complete Piano Trios
„In Hamburg, 1775, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, by then an internationally celebrated and well-connected figure, was surely aware of the genre’s popularity. After all, his half-brother, the London-based Johann Christian, was central in promoting this new culture of domestic piano playing. Responsive to the market demand, C.P.E. came to an agreement with the London publisher Bremner to publish the following year Six Sonatas for the Harpsichord or Pianoforte accompanied by Violin and Violoncello (Wq. 89). Despite the title, Bach referred to these works at times as Trios, at times as Sonatas, and sometimes even as “Trios (which are also Solos)”.
It seems he didn’t really know what to call them, as they sat in between his previously clear categories of Trios (in the Baroque trio-sonata format of two equal instrumental parts accompanied by basso continuo), keyboard solo works, and the “Soli” (works for various solo instruments to be accompanied by the continuo). His ambivalence towards this fashionable new genre was evident in a letter where he contemptuously referred to the
accompanied sonatas as a “non- or half-entity”.
But regardless, the publication was exceedingly successful, and Bach enjoyed what he probably considered a nice bonus to his usual duties of writing religious choral works: “I am having more luck than I have the right to expect. People are crazy about my modest concoction, from which one may profit.” He published two further sets (Wq. 90 and 91) with Breitkopf in Germany in 1776 and 1777, to great success.
Business acumen aside, these works reveal C.P.E. Bach at the height of his career and are full of invention, expression, and shocking surprises
that at times surpass what even Beethoven might dare to do..…..“ (Excerpt from the liner notes by LINOS PIANO TRIOS)
The Linos Piano Trio brings together the members’ five nationalities and three musical voices into
their single artistic vision, which pushes at the boundaries of the trio genre: championing hidden
gems and creating new trio transcriptions alongside the great works of the trio repertoire.
Praised for its “slow-burning, gripping performance” (The Strad), and “virtuosity, presence of mind,
and wit” (Süddeutsche Zeitung), the Linos Piano Trio’s reputation has taken it to prestigious stages
and festivals internationally. The trio’s first two recordings both received nominations for OPUS
Klassik and several five-star reviews from across the European press.
The latter, Stolen Music (BR& CAvi-music), won a Best-List award for chamber music at the Deutsche Schallplattenkritik 2022.
Among other prizes and affiliations, the Linos Piano Trio was the 1st Prize and Audience Prize winner
of the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition 2015 and since 2017 holds the position
of Carne Ensemble-in-Residence at Trinity Laban Conservatoire.
Linos (Λῖνος), in Greek mythology, was a son of Apollo. He received from his father the three-stringed
lute, and became known as the inventor of new melodies, lyric songs, and eloquent speech. He was
the teacher of Heracles and his brother Orpheus.
Thai-British musician Prach Boondiskulchok
enjoys a diverse career as a pianist, historical keyboardist, and composer. He studied piano and composition at the Guildhall School as a Princess Galyani Vadhana Scholar. He is a founding member of the Linos Piano Trio.
Beyond his ensemble, Prach collaborates widely including recitals with Roger Chase, Steven Isserlis, Leonid Gorokhov.
His compositions include Night Suite (2014) praised by George Benjamin for its “ingenuity and imagination,”
Ritus (2019) for Endellion String Quartet’s 40th Anniversary, and Ligatures (2021) for IMS Prussia Cove. A committed educator and scholar, Prach currently teaches chamber music at Royal College of Music London, is a Researcher of historical keyboards at the Orpheus Institute, Ghent.
Praised for his “perfectly poised“ (The Strad) music-making and “beautiful tone, articulated like speech“
(Klassikfavori), London-born German-Brazilian violinist Konrad Elias-Trostmann’s vivid performance
style and natural flair for entertaining break down the wall often found between audience and performer.
Chamber music performances have brought him to venues from New York to São Paulo, and Konrad
regularly appears in world-renowned orchestras such as the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
Currently based in Cologne, he enjoys a vibrant social life in whichever city he happens to be, and gathering
inspiration from some of his greatest musical influences such as Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton.
Berlin-based French-born multi-faceted musician Vladimir Waltham is equally at home on Cello,
Baroque Cello, and all sizes of da Gamba instruments. Praised for his “luminous tone” by Gramophone,
Vladimir is passionate about sharing the broadest possible musical palette, in repertoire
spanning from the Middle Ages to collaborations with composers and world premieres as well as
everything in between.
Vladimir has performed in concert halls all around the world with his ensembles
the Linos Piano Trio and La Serenissima, but also regularly appears as a guest soloist and
chamber musician in halls and festivals worldwide.
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