The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Adam Bickford Left to right: Daniel Hope, Menahem Pressler and Antonio Meneses perform Schubert at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts last Friday night.

It is hard to believe that 50 years ago people criticized the viability of a piano, violin and cello accompanying each other. For the audience at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts last Friday night it took only a few minutes into the performance to realize that Menahem Pressler and the Beaux Arts Trio had found something special with this assortment of instruments.

During the third movement of Schubert's "Trio No.1 in B-flat major," the perfect contrast between the deeper cello and a more cheerful piano part proves that this arrangement is meant to be together.

"Everything they do is so sophisticated," said Rodrigo Queiroz of Brazil. "And they definitely have a Schubert sound."

Despite getting older and growing in prestige, the Beaux Arts Trio has never balked from taking risks with contemporary compositions. This was never more evident than on their second piece, György Kurtág's "Work for Piano Trio."

Although the piece sounded like the trio just tuning their instruments to the untrained ear, Pressler warned ahead of time that it required "a different mode of thinking". Since the piece was short, the Trio played it twice, which gave the audience a second chance to try to demystify the work.

On the final piece, Schubert's Trio in E-flat major, Op. 100, the Trio continued to demonstrate their precision and dedication to accuracy.

Every note and chord fitted perfectly in their place, conjuring powerful emotions and making the music accessible to even the casual listener.

Of course the aficionados in the audience also found plenty to be excited about.

Susan Chang of West Hartford who said, "My expectations were definitely met," said Susan Chang of West Hartford. "It was my dream to see them live."

"I thought it was magical," said Lily Lin, a doctoral student in piano performance. "It is amazing how three musicians can play together so seamlessly and so beautifully."

Throughout the past half-century the musicians of the Beaux Arts Trio have had some of the most decorated careers in all of music. Menahem Pressler (piano), Daniel Hope (violin), and Antonio Meneses (cello) have been nominated for Grammys, been a first prize winner of the Tchaikovsky competition, and have played on over a hundred albums.

This consistently strong production has given the Beaux Arts Trio a reputation among critics as the preeminent piano trio in the world.

Through the power of their music the Beaux Arts seemed almost immortal, but eventually the curtain had to close.

Friday's was the last performance the Trio will make at the Jorgensen, and after a half a century of being at the forefront of chamber music, the group's final performances in North America are now being scheduled.



Contact Eric Nigosanti at

Eric.Nigosanti@UConn.edu.

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