Beaux Arts Chamber Ensemble

Beaux Arts Chamber Ensemble (violinist Erika Venable, cellist Claudio Jaffe, and pianist Tao Lin) presents a program of Piano Trios featuring two youthful works by great masters and one American masterpiece.

Beethoven's very first trio, Op. 1 No. 1 was composed when he was about 23; the work features all the quintessential qualities people come to expect of Beethoven: brilliant passages for all instruments, fiery drama, delicious humor, and heartfelt lyricism.

Claude Debussy's Piano Trio was composed even earlier in the composer's life, at age 18, during which time he served as the piano instructor to the daughters of Nadezhda von Meck, the primary benefactor of Tchaikovsky. The work has transcendent beauty, transparency, and liveliness. There are many moments that exhibit the influence of Tchaikovsky's ballet music, which undoubtedly Debussy was familiar with.

Paul Schoenfield's Cafe Music is simply one of the most brilliant, exciting, and technically demanding trios ever composed. His intention was to write a kind of high-class dinner music – music which could be played at a restaurant. It draws inspiration from many types of music such as early 20th century American, jazz, light classical, gypsy, klezmer, and Broadway. A paraphrase of a beautiful Chassidic melody is incorporated in the second movement.

This program is both viscerally exciting and emotionally satisfying..

Host or Publisher St Mary Magdalene & St Martin Episcopal Church