Trio renowned for concerts

Alnwick Music Society will provide an pportunity to hear the Gould Piano Trio at its next concert on Tuesday.

The Gould Trio, directly compared to the great Beaux Arts Trio for their musical fire and dedication to the genre, have remained at the forefront of the international chamber music scene for a quarter of a century.

They will be playing trios by Beethoven, Ravel and the exciting young composer Mark Simpson.

Ludwig Van Beethoven’s three opus 1 piano trios were ground breaking in their time, so much so that Haydn advised him not to publish the third, Beethoven’s favourite, which will open the Gould’s programme.

However, this delightful work, which became popular in Beethoven’s lifetime, offers few challenges to a modern audience.

Two hundred years later, in a graphically inspired work recently commissioned by the trio, Mark Simpson again challenges the concept of the piano trio with After Avedon.

In this work he responds creatively to the three instruments “without recourse to the historical baggage of the piano trio”.

On more familiar ground, the programme will end with Maurice Ravel’s wonderful Piano Trio, considered one of the finest chamber works of the 20th century. With influences of Basque, Spanish and even Far Eastern music, this highly approachable work provides a wealth of exotic rhythm and melody.

For more details visit alnwickmusicsociety.co.uk or to book tickets see www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk or call the theatre’s Box Office on 01665 510785.