Classica, Gerard Belvire
In their debut recording, a double album featuring arrangements of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s trio sonatas, the Linos proclaimed their intention to reinvent the repertoire for their ensemble. Their second project, titled “Stolen Music,” built on their own challenge by capturing the chamber essence of compositions intended for orchestral formations. In the renditions by our ingenious transcribers, the masterpieces of Debussy, Dukas, Ravel, or Schoenberg suddenly resonated with a relevance as surprising as it was addictive.
…The highly cosmopolitan musicians of Linos—combining five nationalities among the three of them—approached Ravel’s “Pavane pour une infante defunte” and “Le Tombeau de Couperin” with renewed astonishing skill, especially in the latter.
Their approach is accompanied here by a new audacity
The search for a forgotten sound whose nostalgia is nourished by the context (the Great War) and the choreographic character of the compositions (especially the Pavane, the Passacaille of the Trio, and the dance suite that makes up Le Tombeau)…
The finesse of the colour and velvety softness of the ancient instruments allow for an infinite range of nuances and a perfect balance among the three protagonists in a softly lit ambiance with subtle reflections.
In the rich discography of Ravel’s admirable Trio in A minor, the new addition not only brings an additional reference but also an aesthetic that is quite incomparable.
The imagination, enthusiasm, and characterization of these readings, adorned with subtle discoveries (tone effects, discreet string portamenti, etc.), delightfully transport us to a truly rediscovered time.
