In Flanders' Fields vol.46 - Piano Trio Narziss und Goldmund

The compositions by Guillaume Lekeu are characterized by melodic inventiveness, harmonic finesse and highly intense emotional expression. For Lekeu music was first and foremost expression of his personal emotions. His Trio for piano, violin and violoncello is based on such an emotional plan. Edward Grieg called his friend Arthur de Greef "the best performer of my music I have met with". De Greef was trained in the true tradition of romantic pianism; one of his teachers was Franz Liszt. His Piano Trio shows De Greef's strong preference for pure lyricism. He is and remains at heart a composer with ceaseless attention to achieve melodiousness in his spun-out lines. The recording of De Greef's Piano Trio is a world première. Founded in Belgium the Narziss und Goldmund Piano Trio is referring to Hesse's brilliant novel about Narziss (discipline and ratio) and Goldmund (an emotional being). The Trio achieves in their musical insights the same balance in emotion and intellectual approaches as the Hesse's protagonists did. The Alban Berg Quartet coached the Trio at the Cologne Hochschule für Musik during three years. Followed masterclasses with the Altenberg Trio Wien and the Florestan Trio in London. Menahem Pressler (Beaux Arts Trio) regularly coaches and supports the Trio. The Narziss und Goldmund Piano Trio is becoming quite prominent and performs for the most important concert organisations in Belgium, the Netherlands, in Spain. The Trio is "ensemble in residence" in the Academiezaal of Sint-Truiden.