21st February 2011 – Sitkovetsky Trio

1901 Arts Club

Imagine there are three truly superb musicians – one pianist, one violinist and one cellist. Put them together as a trio, and the result? The Sitkovetsky Trio!

Lionel and I went to the 1901 Arts Club, my favourite concert venue just off Waterloo Station. They organize fabulous recitals by Hattori Foundation prize winners. Because these musicians have been through a vigorous audition process to win an award, you are assured of high quality. The trio consists of Alexander Sitkovestky (violin), Wu Qian (piano), and Leonard Elschenbroich (cello). I’m sure many will remember that Leonard appeared at Breinton last summer and gave a phenomenal performance of Beethoven Sonatas with pianist Alexei Grynyuk.

This evening, we heard them play the Tchaikovsky Trio in A minor. And what a memorable Tchaikovsky it was. It is rather long, nearly 50 minutes; however it has breathtaking lyricism that people long for.

The beginning of the first movement pezzo elegioaco is so beautiful. The sad and grave theme is introduced by the cello and tossed to the violin, then to the piano. I just love this beginning, and the trio played it so wonderfully that I was immediately taken into their musical world. The three formed a fabulous unison and were totally in sync, and I think they expressed the composer’s sorrow, pain and agitation. Wu Quan is a dynamic pianist. I particularly remember the dramatic chords of the first theme, which she seemed to be playing with full power but her sounds were never harsh or metallic - they were bold but warm sounds, which went perfectly with Sasha’s striking violin and Leonard’s deep, emotional cello.

Tema convariazioni begins with a beautiful melody theme introduced by the piano. It works itself into more and more ecstatic heights, then with the final variation of the original minor key, the theme from the first movement returns with greater gravity. The trio’s playing was meticulous and precise, and their sound so transparent and clean. They performed it with total confidence (or at least so it appeared), demonstrating such strong musicality – it was such a delight to listen to them!