Erato Piano Trio

Wednesday 2nd November 2011, 7:30pm

Yuri Kalnits

Recently selected by Making Music’s Concert Promoters’ Network as featured artists for 2012/13, the Erato Piano Trio is rapidly establishing a reputation as one of the UK’s leading young ensembles, praised for their virtuosity, outstanding musicianship and stylistic versatility alike. As first prize winners of the Anglo-Czech Trust Competition they currently pursue a busy schedule of recitals around the UK and the European mainland. Their repertoire extends from the classical works of Haydn, Hummel and Mozart over the romantic masterpieces to 20th century music by Schnittke, Avner Dorman and Mark-Anthony Turnage. Their interpretation of the Piano Trio by Alfred Schnittke was received enthusiastically by audiences and critics alike and led to an invitation by Professor Alexander Ivashkin, Schnittke’s close friend and biographer, to perform the work at the Centre for Russian Music in London.

Highlights of the past seasons have included performances at the Martinu Hall in Prague, the Shostakovich Celebration Concert at the Royal College of Music and most notably a hugely successful tour to Switzerland in 2007 as part of which they gave their much acclaimed debut at Zurich’s famous Tonhalle, performing Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time alongside the distinguished Spanish clarinettist Joan Enric Lluna. They were selected onto the Concordia Foundation Young Artists Scheme in 2008 and subsequently performed a series of recitals at prestigious London venues including St. Martin in the Fields.

Recent performances have included their Welsh debut at the National Gallery in Cardiff, appearances at the Lower Machen and Uckfield Festivals, a tour to Sardinia as well as recitals for numerous UK chamber music societies. The current season sees them perform at venues such as Warwick Arts Centre, The Forge, St. James Piccadilly, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, and Queens Theatre Cambridge. Their strong commitment to  contemporary music recently led them to launch a much acclaimed project with the composition faculty of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, as well as giving two world premieres of pieces written for the Erato Piano Trio. One of these, David Braid’s Music for Dancers, will be released on the Toccata Classics label later this year.

The three young musicians have benefited from the guidance of Salvatore Accardo, Professor John Barstow MBE, Leonid Gorokhov, Ani Schnarch and the Chilingirian Quartet. They were also selected to perform in masterclasses with Lewis Kaplan as well as with legedary cellist and Beaux Arts Trio founder Bernard Greenhouse. They are currently continuing their training at Chamber Studio King’s Place with renowned artists such as Paul Watkins, Susan Tomes, Richard Ireland and Christoph Richter, kindly supported by Philip Carne.

For further details about the Trio visit their website

Garrett Shatzer, whose Piano Trio No.1 is to receive its UK premiere tonight,  is a talented young American composer who is currently writing a triple concerto for the Erato Piano Trio which they will premiere in the US in 2012. To find out more about him and hear examples of his music (including the Piano Trio), visit his website.

Programme

Haydn ~ Piano trio in C major, Hob.XV 27

Garret Shatzer ~ Piano Trio No.1

Shostakovich ~ Piano Trio No.1

Brahms ~ Piano Trio in C major, Op.87