TRIOZ – Emerald Crossing

The amber tones of the viola embellish the core musicians of TRIOZ when viola player Yvette Goodchild joins pianist Kathy Selby, violinist Niki Vasilakis and cellist Emma-Jane Murphy for their “Emerald Crossing” tour which comes to Sydney city (the City Recital Hall) on Tuesday May 17th at 7 pm and Turramurra on Sunday 15th March at 2 pm.

The core ensemble sets the mood with a trio that unusually opens with a slower tempo (Lento) – Rachmaninov’s Piano Trio Elegiaque No. 1 in G minor, composed as a single movement when Rachmaninov was just 19.

And then…no pun intended…a trio of quartets:

Mozart’s Piano Quartet No.1 in G minor, K. 478 (1785) was one of several quartets to prompt the highest praise from Haydn to Leopold, father of Wolfgang Amadeus: “Speaking as a man of honour….your son is the greatest composer I know…He has taste…and the most complete understanding of composition”

Ross Edwards’ 1999 piano quartet “Emerald Crossing” follows. “Rapt and Mysterious” are the markings at the start of the manuscript, with the left hand notes spread over not one, but two staves. Nature and spirituality are powerful elements in Edwards’ music and he says: ” As I composed Emerald Crossing I was haunted by an image of a canoe propelled slowly across clear green water – a lagoon? – towards an island…. it’s a sort of antipodean barcarolle, mysterious …. and probably symbolic at an unconscious level. I had a feeling that some kind of ritual was being enacted and this is enhanced by the inexorable rhythm in the left hand of the piano.”

Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op. 47 completes the evening.

Can’t catch them in Sydney?

Head to the Southern Highlands, where they perform in Bowral on Saturday 15th May at 5 pm…

…and to Canberra on Monday May 16th, where you can hear them at 7 pm, in the James O Fairfax Theatre of the National Gallery of Canberra.

Win double passes to the Sydney performances of “Emerald Crossing” …..

Nominate your favourite piano trio (composition) and why you like it, in no more that 25 words. You will go into the draw to win double passes to TRIOZ’ Emerald Crossing concerts on the 15th (2 pm Turramurra) and the 17th May (7pm City Recital Hall). Don’t forget to tell us which concert you would like to attend. Email your answers to:  tix@soundslikesydney.com.au Closing date 5 pm Friday 13th May.