Promising Start for TrioZ

Selby and Friends. National Concert Season – Program One. Fairfax Theatre, National Gallery. March 19.

This newly formed Australian chamber music group, which has arisen, phoenix-like, from the ashes of the previous Macquarie Trio, which sadly self-destructed late last year, made an impressive Canberra debut last Monday night. It is centred around TrioZ, a new piano trio in which pianist Kathryn Selby, former leader of the Macquarie Trio, has been joined by the brilliant young Australian violinist Niki Vasilakis, and the fine cellist Emma-Jane Murphy who for a number of years was principal cello of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

In a challenging program of piano trios by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Ravel they already displayed the essential musical qualities to be a notable addition to permanent chamber ensembles in this country. Beethoven’s Kakadu Variations, Op 121a, was written in 1803 and based on a popular song of the day, but only published in a later revision in 1824. It shows the composer in a relaxed and ‘unbuttoned’ mood, and in an attractively shaped performance it made a suitably jovial start to the program.

Felix Mendelssohn’s Trio in C minor, Op 66, is one of the enduring masterpieces of the 19th – century romantic chamber music repertoire, written in 1845, only two years before the composer’s early death. It is music of lightness and charm, yet also of considerable expressive power, and despite some moments of less than perfect tonal balance, understandable in a recently-formed ensemble, it received a total realisation that was eminently satisfying.

The Trio in A minor of Maurice Ravel is similarly a masterwork of early 20th – century post-impressionism in its delicate melodic lines and crisp, clean textures. With a totally committed approach from the players in which an excellent tonal balance was maintained between the three instruments, and with this enhanced by a fine understanding of the special qualities of Ravel’s lovely work, it was a performance to savour with constant delight.

This concert made an impressive start to this new national musical venture, with the promise of varied and memorable chamber music rewards to come from further performances during the year.