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CHAMBER MUSIC REVIEW A Tasty Triad November 1, 2002
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By Cynthia Albers
In 2001, the Berlin-based Jacques Thibaud Trio astonished Bay Area audiences by performing the Schoenberg Trio from memory. Returning this year with a superb and memorized program of Beethoven, Françaix and Dohnányi, the trio added a new link to their growing reputation. The only trick was their choice of venues, which skirted San Francisco several miles to the north and south. But the treat, a stunning performance, was given to Sonoma County audiences who attended Friday's concert at the Spreckels Auditorium in Rohnert Park.
Opening with the Beethoven Trio in E-flat major, Op. 3, the players approached their work as if sitting down to a lively conversation. Violinist Burkhardt Maiss, who began his career playing tangos in pubs and bars, violist Philip Douvier and cellist Uwe Hirth-Schmidt performed with engaging virtuosity while preserving the gentle dignity of a piece that strikes a balance between Beethoven's "Spring" sonata and the "Pastorale" symphony. With no music stands separating them, the three personalities played with a unique clarity that spoke directly to the audience.
The String Trio (1933) by Jean Françaix was a delightful mix of whit and jollity placed within a neoclassical frame. Reminiscent of Gershwin's American in Paris, the Allegro vivo, Scherzo and Rondo bubbled with animation, the use of mutes in alternate movements enhancing a harmonic coloring that was quintessentially French.
The highlight was Ernst von Dohnányi's Serenade in C major, Op. 10 (1902). Though the Hungarian composer was only 25 at the completion of this dark, majestic work, the serenade is a masterpiece of maturity and depth. The powerful harmonies and rich, Brahmsian textures were thrilling (Brahms was an important mentor of the young composer) and the Thibaud Trio did not miss an opportunity to express this in detail. The Romanza featured violist Douvier, whose playing was accompanied by clockwork pizzicato from the violin and cello. Throughout, the ensemble played with solid intonation, managing difficult passagework with intensity and precision. The Jacques Thibaud Trio, which pays homage with its name to the French violinist who devoted himself to playing trios with Casals and Cortot, is a leader among young chamber ensembles. All three musicians were outstanding in their ability to grasp the essence of each composition, moving with thoughtfulness from one style to the next. In performing these works from memory, their playful virtuosity and soulful artistry brings greater meaning to the phrase “playing by heart.”
(Cynthia Albers is a violinist and teacher residing in rural Sonoma County. She has performed and recorded with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and the American Bach Soloists, and is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Music.)
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