Trio Wanderer
Trio Wanderer is forty years young and is celebrating this milestone at the Concertgebouw, a venue with which the musicians maintain a warm bond. The French trio, originally founded by students at the Paris Conservatory, is one of the world's leading piano trios. "The ensemble plays with flair and unity, with fresh musical insights and a wealth of expressive detail," according to the renowned English magazine The Strad . During their celebratory program, they bring together works by Mendelssohn, Liszt, Ravel, and Mel Bonis. The trio also recently recorded the trios by Bonis and Ravel on the album Art nouveau . An album that was received with acclaim and was awarded, among other accolades, a Diapason d'Or.
Mendelssohn and Ravel
Mendelssohn and Ravel had already more than earned their stripes when they wrote their two gems of piano trios. Mendelssohn was chief conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra and had shortly before brought Schubert's 'Great' Symphony back into the spotlight. Ravel had completed his monumental Daphnis et Chloé in 1914, thereby setting a new benchmark for modern music. This mature craftsmanship is also evident in their chamber music. Both trios demonstrate how refined the balance between violin, cello, and piano can be, and call for playing in which virtuosity and subtlety go hand in hand. Mendelssohn's romantic warmth and Ravel's sharp, modern sound world differ like night and day. Together, they show just how rich and expressive the piano trio can be.