T R I O   A T A N A S S O V

Perceval Gilles, violin | Sarah Sultan, cello | Pierre-Kaloyann Atanassov, piano

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“Thanks to an overdeveloped sense of dialogue, [the musicians of the trio Atanassov] invite us to delve into the depths of the score, and on many occasions, to strike the right chord in us. Confident in their technical skills and their phrasing, they give a noble opulence to the pathos of both works [trios of Smetana and Dvorak]. Their skilful use of dynamics, with large (de)crescendos, sudden contrasts, and meticulous attention to detail, contributes to building shapes of such coherence that it surpasses one’s imagination.”
Diapason, Nicolas Derny, mai 2014

The trio Atanassov was awarded a Diapason d’Or for its first CD. With these words, Nicolas Derny pinpoints what has become, over the years, the trademark of the ensemble: interpretations subtly merging emotion and clarity.

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The complicity uniting Perceval Gilles, Sarah Sultan and Pierre-Kaloyann Atanassov since the trio’s formation in 2007 stems from a common state of mind based on shared values: integrity, artistic demands, musical curiosity, human simplicity and a deep sense of sharing.
“Moving, surprising and even touching our audience by sharing the emotions we have experienced as we discovered the performed works - these are the things we most fervently believe in.”
The demanding nature of the three musicians was acknowledged by the great masters of chamber music who coached them during their formative years in prestigious European institutions (Conservatoire de Paris, Vienna University, European Chamber Music Academy). According to Christoph Richter, for example: “The trio’s interpretations are built on constant research, incessant work and clear personal ideas about the works that make up their repertoire.”
The craftsmanship of the three musicians, along with their unanimously praised clarity of purpose, enabled them to stand out in major competitions around the world. After coming first in the Frankfurt and Graz competitions, the Trio Atanassov earned awards in various renowned piano trio competitions including Osaka, Trondheim, Vienna (Joseph Haydn) and Weimar (Joseph Joachim).
These awards became the building blocks of a career which has seen the trio perform all over Europe, from the Vienna Musikverein to the Alte Oper in Francfort, through the Wigmore Hall in London, the Ars Musica Festival in Brussels, the Sofia Philharmony or the Radio-France Festival in Montpellier as well as the Philharmonie de Paris. 

The trio’s concerts are often broadcast on European radio (stations include France Musique, ORF, HR2, RTS Espace 2, Musiq’3, BNR) and their first record (Smetana/Dvořák, Hänssler Classics 2013) garnered them a Diapason d’Or. Their second record – Chic à la française – dedicated to French music, was released in 2019.

Thanks to their insatiable curiosity, the three musicians have crafted a particularly diverse repertoire, from Haydn’s first Trios to contemporary compositions. This eclecticism enables the trio to arrange programs in which works from various time periods echo each other through a common theme.
Seeking to pass on emotion and knowledge, the trio Atanassov sees the value of sharing as their deepest motivation: “Moving, surprising & even touching our audience by sharing the emotions we have experienced as we discovered the performed works - these are the things we most fervently believe in.”