Sibelius Piano Trio Korppoo Trio 180g 45rpm LP (Vinyl)

Executive producer: Jim Mulally

When you hear this trio play Sibelius, you'll understand why the Sibelius family granted Petteri, Juho and Samuli use of the composer's name. Jean Sibelius' piano trios were important to him personally. He wrote them in his youth, during the summers he vacationed with his brother Christian and sister Linda on various islands in Houtskär, the Finnish archipelago off the southwest coast of Finland. Sibelius wrote Korppoo Trio on Korrpoo Island where the composer (violin), Linda (piano) and Christian (cello) played it on 'rainy days' at the family's summer house.
- Bob Attiyeh, producer

"Sibelius gave us his monumental Korppoo Trio in D Major (JS 209) in 1887. We can hear the magnificent mature Sibelius peeking out through this work. Sibelius wrote Korppoo Trio in three sophisticated and dramatic movements.... Korppoo opens with a good-humored celebration of the Beauty of Nature and includes a thoughtful Fugue in the development section which demonstrates his growing power as a composer. Next comes a Fantasia, improvisational and painterly in nature, with frequent tempo changes and mood swings, ending with passages of natural serenity that remind me of bird song. Sibelius reveals his fun sense of humor in the final Rondo, which he writes without allowing himself to be inhibited by traditions of the 'approved' classical tradition." - Juho Pohjonen

Korppoo Trio is the most ambitious and expansive of the three Sibelius trios... coming in at 26 minutes, its fluent, melodic opening allegro interrupted on occasion by stabbing, rather Beethovenian assertions and even a clean-lined fugato at one point, though the overall form is classic in outline and clear as a bell. The second movement unfolds elaborate episodes that delve into Romantic pathos and fantasy, with striking use of high birdcalls and glassy harmonics in the violin (presumably to show off the young composer-violinist's prowess on his instrument). A vivace rondo finale dances gaily along, bringing the trio to an exhilarating conclusion.... Yarlung's recording, is, as usual, the epitome of sonic realism.