Following their acclaimed recording of string trios by Hungarian composers, Trio Boccherini turns to France and Belgium with a programme spanning the first half of the 20th century. The album explores a repertoire shaped by elegance, individuality, and the intimate dialogue that makes the string trio such a compelling medium. Early French string trios were often described as conversations à trois—a fitting image for music that thrives on the exchange of ideas between three equal voices.
The journey begins with Jean Cras, the Breton composer and distinguished French naval officer whose remarkable String Trio combines refined craftsmanship with striking originality. Drawing on influences ranging from North African music to Bach and Bartók, Cras created a work of exceptional richness and imagination.
Eugène Ysaÿe's Le Chimay follows with music of great intensity, demanding extraordinary technical command and emotional commitment from its performers. The work takes its name from the venue of its first performance, which took place many years after the composer's death.
In contrast, Jean Françaix offers a String Trio of effortless wit and sparkling charm. Rejecting the prevailing modernist trends of his time, Françaix wrote music that is light on its feet yet deeply expressive, balancing humour, elegance, and unmistakable individuality.
The programme concludes with a beautifully crafted arrangement of Claude Debussy's beloved Clair de lune for string trio. In this intimate setting, one of the most cherished works in the French repertoire reveals new colours while retaining all of its timeless lyricism.
