The Sounds Of Paris Piano Trio, Sunday At Edmond Town Hall

In Europe, they are known simply as “Les Musiciens.”

On Sunday, November 13, Newtown Friends of Music will sponsor a concert by the world famous Paris Piano Trio at Edmond Town Hall at 3 pm.

Violinist Régis Pasquier, cellist Roland Pidoux and pianist Jean-Claude Pennetier are three outstanding French soloists who have shared their love of chamber music since they were students together at the National Conservatory of Music in Paris. They made their first tour together when Régis Pasquier was just 13 years old. Each graduated with top honors from the Conservatory (where they are all now professors) and rapidly established a major solo career.

Yet, they have consistently made time to come together and tour on the continent, in England and in North America. Their continuing commitment to the Trio provides an opportunity to express both their musical individuality and their impressive musical rapport.

The Trio’s first major tour of the United States, in January 1998, earned kudos from critics and presenters across the country, and it has since returned to major cities from Washington to Los Angeles. Since that time the Trio has also toured South America.

“They perform with polish, vigor and an exemplary sense of style,” said The Washington Post, while The Los Angles Times simply stated: “Their playing was superb.”

The Trio’s recordings are released under the name “Les Musiciens.” They include Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich on the Lyrinx label as well as the trios of Schubert and Brahms and chamber music of Chausson on the Harmonia Mundi label.

The program for November 13 will begin with Haydn’s Trio in E-Flat minor, Hob. XV, No. 31 and continue with Schumann’s Trio in D Minor, Op. 63. The Schumann work is the only one of the composer’s four piano trios that retains a place of prominence in the modern repertoire.

After intermission, the concert will conclude with Schubert’s Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 100, said to be one of the composer’s favorites.

One of his last instrumental works, Schubert reportedly considered Trio in E-Flat “active, masculine and dramatic.” During the final movement, the theme of the slow movement is replayed twice. This is one of the earliest examples of a composer using repetition of an earlier theme to unify his composition.

Tickets for the performance are $18 for adults and $16 for seniors. Students kindergarten age through grade 12 will be admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. The box office will open one hour before the start of the concert.

Parking is free behind Edmond Town Hall and the facility is handicap accessible, with all seating providing excellent viewing and acoustics. Following the performance there will be an informal reception to meet the artists in the town hall’s lobby.

For additional information call 426-6470 or visit NewtownFriendsOfMusic.