This recital was presented by the Cargill Piano Trio on Saturday 12^th February 2022 at Kemnay Village Hall.

The recital opened with Haydn’s Gypsy Rondo Trio in G major, No. 39. This work is probably Haydn’s most popular, and justice was certainly done, with beautiful ensemble playing throughout. In the first two movements, the violin and cello dovetailed seamlessly, with the piano providing a most interesting foundation in Haydn’s superb piece of ensemble writing. The tender violin passages in the second movement were sympathetically supported by both cello and piano. In the third movement, the Gypsy Rondo, the piano set off at a blistering pace, matched by the violin and cello. It really felt in this movement as if the piano was in charge and the gypsy dance themes were delivered with such passion by all three that I could barely prevent myself from getting up and dancing!

This was followed by Amy Beach’s Piano Trio, Op.150, a work with which I was not familiar. It was very much in the romantic and impressionistic mode and possibly somewhat ahead of its time. Throughout all three movements the piano set the themes which were quickly taken up by violin and cello. The piano opened the first movement, with the cello introducing the initial theme. The second movement featured a soulful theme, developed by all three instruments. This style returned in the final movement, alternating with some fast, very busy passages which gave me images of city streets, traffic and the hustle and bustle. This was a gorgeous piece, very American in style and sympathetically delivered by the Trio.

The final piece was the Mendelssohn Trio No.1 in D minor, op. 49. One of Mendelssohn’s best-loved pieces, this began with a theme beautifully delivered on the cello which indeed takes a prominent role throughout much of the piece. In the second movement, the piano introduced that achingly beautiful well-known theme which was taken up and developed by the violin and then by the cello. This was played with overwhelming passion, and I found it going through my head, even after leaving the concert. The short scherzo was in a sense a brief but welcome relief from this intensity. In the final movement, the piano featured prominently (as indeed it does throughout this piece) performing virtuosic runs and passages, setting both the pace and the tone for the remainder of the piece. Violin and cello join with the piano in building to a passionate and tumultuous conclusion.

Throughout the programme the Cargill Trio oozed a sense of happiness and enjoyment, both in the music and in their ensemble playing, sending the audience home resonating these happy feelings.

Sylvia Munro
15th February 2022

Programme information can be found here.