JANAKI STRING TRIO
With KATHY SELBY

MUSIC –
Adelaide Advertiser 23 May, 2007

When: Sunday
Where: Elder Hall
Reviewer: Rodney Smith

SYDNEY radio presenter, music entrepreneur and pianist Kathy Selby has re-created her earlier Selby and Friends concert series for 2007, on this occasion featuring herself with US ensemble the Janaki String Trio. Her Adelaide following from the now-defunct Macquarie Trio series remains constant.

Violinist Serena McKinney, violist Katie Kadarauch and cellist Arnold Choi are full of energy and passion, tempered by finesse and empathy for their subject. Their reading of Penderecki’s String Trio (1990) contained some marvellous moments of dialectic charm, laced with volcanic eruptions.

Energy levels in Beethoven’s early String Trio Op. 9 were maintained with spirited but warmly contoured playing. Throughout, cellist Arnold Choi was busily involved as the glue between violin and viola.

Faure’s 1st Piano Quartet Op. 15 brought Selby into the equation, proving that she is among the finest of chamber music pianists.