Vienna Piano Trio plans an evening of classic trio masterpieces for Feb. 11
MIDDLEBURY, Vt.-Acclaimed for following old world musical tradition with a very modern appeal, the Vienna Piano Trio plans a stop on its latest United States tour at Middlebury College for a recital at 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 11, in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.
The ensemble plans to present two of the cornerstone masterpieces of piano trio literature: Schubert’s trio D. 898 in B-Flat Major and Beethoven’s “Archduke Trio.”
For concert goers who would like to hear the group in advance, the trio will also be featured on Vermont Public Radio on Friday, Feb. 11, between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. The group’s members will offer a short live performance on the air, and chat briefly with host Walter Parker.
Last fall, a New Zealand Herald critic wrote these comments following the trio’s performance in Auckland: “Beethoven’s ‘Archduke Trio’ found the three musicians at their peak. From the opening phrase it was evident that these men take infinitesimal care in realizing a composer’s intentions.”
Founded in 1988 by violinist Wolfgang Redik, cellist Marcus Trefny and pianist Stefan Mendl, the Vienna Piano Trio has studied with the Trio di Trieste, the Haydn Trio Wien and with members of the LaSalle and Guarneri Quartets, as well as Isaac Stern, Ralph Kirshbaum and Jamie Laredo. In 2001, Austrian Matthias Gredler joined the group as the new cellist.
Their tour schedule takes them through the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Europe on a regular basis. They have performed in London’s Wigmore Hall and in many other European cities, including Paris, Amsterdam, Budapest and Berlin. In the U.S., the trio has played Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers, and a host of other locations. They enjoy playing music festivals in Europe and Canada, such as the Schubertiade Feldkirch, Finland’s Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, and the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival.
The trio also occasionally conducts master classes at a variety of well known musical institutions such as the Royal College of Music in London, the Sydney Conservatory of Music, and the Helsinki Music Conservatory.
Their award-winning recordings on Nimbus have included works by Haydn, Beethoven, Dvorak and Shostakovich. Since 2003, the ensemble has been recording exclusively for MDG. BBC Music Magazine declared the first and second volumes of Schubert recordings to be “benchmark recordings.” In 2004, the trio released two Dvorak recordings to critical acclaim. BBC Music Magazine gave the first volume a five-star rating, and stated, “These performances are, quite simply, stunning … interpretative playing of the highest quality enhanced by a natural sound put this issue well ahead of any other contenders.”
The ensemble is proud to note that Wolfgang Redik plays a J.B. Guadagnini violin from 1772, which is on loan from the Austrian National Bank.
The concert is sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series.
The Middlebury College Center for the Arts is on South Main Street (Route 30). Reserved seating tickets for the performance are $12 for general admission and $10 for seniors. For tickets or information, contact the Middlebury College Box Office at 802-443-6433. Online tickets and information are available at www.middlebury.edu/arts.
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