Attended a piano trio recital today in Ambleside Parish Church. It was food for the soul. A young ensemble, all in their 20s, and one still an undergraduate at RNCM, played with such apparent joy as well as talent. It was uplifting, even beyond the wonderful music, to see their teamwork and pleasure in working together to produce something special.The highlight was Schubert’s 2nd trio, a huge 50 minute work which was one of the composer’s last of his own works to hear played just before his tragically young death. To me, Schubert’s works always seem to be based on some trivial, even banal little snatch of tune, which he moulds to a work which will induce a wide range of emotional responses in the listener. One of the great things about the afternoon was being so close to the players, having got seats near the front. Easy to imagine they’re playing just for you.
Incidentally, the ensemble consists of a Japanese pianist and two Lithuanian string players. They were billed as the Jonusas Trio, but seem to have recently changed their name, which I now forget.
