Shostakovich: Complete Works for Piano Trio Trio Kanon, Lena Yokoyama, Alessandro Copia, Diego Maccagnola & Irina Dubrovskaya

• Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975): Piano Trio No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 8 (1923):
• 1 Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 8 (1923): I. Andante - Allegro - Moderato - Allegro 13:09
• 7 Romances on Poems by Aleksandr Blok, Op. 127 (1967):
• 2 Shostakovich: 7 Romances on Poems by Aleksandr Blok, Op. 127 (1967): I. Song of Ophelia 02:55
• 3 Shostakovich: 7 Romances on Poems by Aleksandr Blok, Op. 127 (1967): II. Gamayun, the Bird of Prophecy 03:44
• 4 Shostakovich: 7 Romances on Poems by Aleksandr Blok, Op. 127 (1967): III. We Were Together 03:09
• 5 Shostakovich: 7 Romances on Poems by Aleksandr Blok, Op. 127 (1967): IV. Gloom Enwraps the Sleeping City 03:14
• 6 Shostakovich: 7 Romances on Poems by Aleksandr Blok, Op. 127 (1967): V. The Storm 02:20
• 7 Shostakovich: 7 Romances on Poems by Aleksandr Blok, Op. 127 (1967): Vi. Secret Signs 04:12
• 8 Shostakovich: 7 Romances on Poems by Aleksandr Blok, Op. 127 (1967): VII. Music 05:06
• Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67 (1944):
• 9 Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67 (1944): I. Andante, Moderato, Presto 07:24
• 10 Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67 (1944): II. Allegro Con Brio 03:04
• 11 Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67 (1944): III. Largo 04:53
• 12 Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67 (1944): IV. Allegretto 10:47
• Total Runtime 01:03:57

Info for Shostakovich: Complete Works for Piano Trio

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975) stands as one of the most compelling and complex composers of the twentieth century. Living and working in the Soviet Union, he was constantly caught between personal artistic expression and the demands of a highly restrictive political system. His music often reflects this tension, combining sharp irony, deep tragedy, and moments of bleak humor. Among his chamber works, the two piano trios hold a special place, offering an intimate window into his emotional world at two very different stages of his life.

Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No.1 in C minor, Op.8, was composed in 1923, when he was only sixteen years old. Despite his youth, the trio already shows remarkable maturity. Written in a single movement, it reveals a lyrical and introspective character, strongly influenced by late Romantic traditions. Long, singing melodies and rich harmonies dominate the work, especially in the piano part.

More than twenty years later, in 1944, Shostakovich composed the Piano Trio No.2 in E minor, Op.67, one of his most powerful chamber works. Written during World War II and dedicated to the memory of his close friend Ivan Sollertinsky, the trio confronts themes of death, grief, and suffering. Its four movements range from haunting stillness to violent intensity. The final movement is particularly striking, incorporating Jewish musical elements that suggest both mourning and bitter irony, possibly alluding to the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Also included are the 7 Romances on Poems by Alexander Blok, a vocal cycle for soprano, violin, cello, and piano in which each piece explores a different instrumental combination - from duos to the full ensemble. In these Romances, music becomes inward speech - whispered, often suspended over silence. Blok’s poems, filled with dreamlike visions and disturbing symbols, become the very fabric of the composition: each word, each image, finds its sonic counterpart in a language of subtle timbres, controlled dissonance, and unresolved tension. The result is a cycle of miniature music-theatre scenes in which the voice and instruments do not merely accompany, but engage in dialogue.

Played with great intensity and commitment by the Trio Kanon and soprano Irina Dubrovskaya.

Trio Kanon:
Lena Yokoyama, violin
Alessandro Copia, cello
Diego Maccagnola, piano
Irina Dubrovskaya, soprano

Trio Kanon
(the name refers to the Canone but simultaneously is coming from the union of two Japanese words: “Ka” – “Flower” and “On”– “Music” so literally “Flourishing Music”) arise in summer 2012 from the friendship between three musicians with the same purpose to make music together. With this premise in 2012 Lena, Alessandro and Diego started their chamber music experience building their repertoire under the guide of the Trio di Parma (Alberto Miodini, Ivan Rabaglia, Enrico Bronzi) at the International Chamber Music Academy in Duino, founded by the Trio di Trieste in 1989.

The three musicians had previously studied individually with outstanding teachers as Maria Grazia Bellocchio, Salvatore Accardo and Rocco Filippini in important institutions such as the Stauffer Academy in Cremona and the Santa Cecilia International Academy in Rome.

In 2014 the Trio attended the masterclasses with Alexander Lonquich at “Accademia Chigiana” in Siena, with Robert Cohen at Snape Maltings (Uk), with Hatto Beyerle, Miguel Da Silva and Annette von Hehn (Atos Trio) at Trondheim Chamber Music Academy 2014 (Norway), with Oliver Wille at the Centre Européen de Musique de Chambre ProQuartet of Paris and at the Internationale Konzertarbeitswochen in Goslar (Germany) and with Avedis Kouyomdijian, Johannes Meissl, Anita Mitterer, Peter Nagy, the Talich Quartet at ISA2015 summer academy in Semmering and Reichenau an der Rax (Vienna) where the trio was rewarded as Best ensemble, winning the “Chamber Music Award” sponsored by the Haydn Institute and by the “University of music” of Vienna.

Trio Kanon gained international credibility by winning many prizes, including the 1st Prize, the Audience Prize and 2 Special Prizes at the International Chamber Music Competition of Pinerolo & Torino 2018 (member of the World Federation of International Music Competition). The award hadn’t been won by an Italian group for 17 years.

The Trio played in many important venues, such as Teatro La Fenice in Venice, the Sala Casella and the Cappella Paolina of the Quirinale Palace in Rome, the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, the Sala dei Notari in Perugia, the Teatro Vittoria in Turin, Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Te in Mantua for the Mantova Chamber Music Festival; they also performed in England, Croatia, Austria, China and the USA, always meeting unanimous success with audiences and critics.

In 2015, the ensemble was invited as resident group at the Snape Maltings’ famous Aldeburgh Music Festival, where they performed twice at the Jubilee Hall.

In 2019 Trio Kanon went on tour in Japan, holding concerts at the Music Salon Amadeus in Kobe, the Aqua Cultural Center in Toyonaka where they played Beethoven Triple Concert and at the Phoenix Hall in Osaka.

In 2019 they also had the privilege to work with Alfred Brendel, attending a masterclass - promoted by Associazione Mozart Italia in Modica - about Schubert repertoire.

They recently recorded for prestigious review “Amadeus” and “Movimento Classical” label music by L. v. Beethoven.

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