A Journey Through Czech Soundscapes: Xuesong Cao’s “Pábitel” on KNS Classical

KNS Classical is proud to present Pábitel, the new recording by celebrated accordionist Xuesong Cao, joined by pianist Quanlin Wang. A graduate of the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover and lecturer at Tianjin Conservatory of Music, Cao brings extraordinary artistic insight to this deeply evocative and conceptually rich album.

Pábitel invites listeners into a profound journey through Czech musical landscapes, from the intimate introspections of Leoš Janáček to the narrative vibrancy of Václav Trojan. Janáček’s On an Overgrown Path, originally conceived for harmonium and later transformed into one of the most poignant piano cycles of the 20th century, is here adapted for accordion and piano by composer Stefan Heuke. This arrangement retains the emotional depth and folkloric character of the original while offering a unique perspective through the coloristic range of the accordion.

In contrast, Trojan’s Fairy-Tale Suite, composed in 1959, transports the listener into a world of whimsical characters and vivid storytelling. Long cherished within the accordion repertoire, these seven movements reveal Trojan’s lyrical imagination and his gift for weaving charm, wit, and dramatic flair into his music.

The album’s title, Pábitel, draws from the Czech term for a storyteller who lives in a dreamlike world of imagination. The carefully considered track order, moving from shadow to light, echoes this metaphor, transforming sorrow into joy and darkness into hope.

Pábitel is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

CD Page: Pábitel
Artist Profile: Xuesong Cao / Quanlin Wang