Named after the German poet Christian Morgenstern, the Franco-German “Morgenstern Trio” has selected a “triad” of Franco-Belgian composers for their new CD, centered around Ravel’s Piano Trio in A Minor (1914). Violinist, pianist and teacher Kolja Lessing, a friend of the trio, drew their attention to the two relatively unknown works by Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) and Jacqueline Fontyn (born in 1930). For the three trio members, the main point of interest lay not so much in certain traits of style or character these three Franco-Belgian works might eventually share, nor in the fact that two of the composers are women. Instead, their goal was to explore aspects of historical context and mutual influence among composers. “Ravel wrote his trio in 1914, and Tailleferre the first version of her trio two years later. We thought it would be particularly worthwhile to find out how two French-speaking composers, both known to be admirers of Ravel, wrote in this genre. Did they willingly succumb to his musical influence, or did they distance themselves from their model? We were especially thrilled to have the opportunity to visit Madame Fontyn in her home in Brussels, and to talk with her about her trio.” ….. (please continue in the booklet)

MORGENSTERN TRIO

“The Morgenstern Trio gave a smashing debut Thursday evening at the Kennedy Centre’s Terrace Theatre. In works by Ravel, Bernstein and Brahms, the group displayed an unanimity, polished technique and musical imagination that I thought had vanished from the scene with the demise of the Beaux Arts Trio.”(Washington Post, May 2012).

For its first-rate standards of musicianship and technique, the Morgenstern Trio garners praise from music-lovers and critics alike. The three members work closely together on each interpretation over an extended period of time, devoting the greatest care to the most delicate nuance. Audiences are even more thrilled to observe their obvious pleasure in shared musical expression, their palpable curiosity and their sheer joy in making music together. Perhaps more than any other musical genre, the piano trio pairs quasi-symphonic density and power with the intimate, transparent texture of a solo recital. Piano trio performers thus face the challenge of bringing these fascinating opposites together by creating a truly homogeneous ensemble sound. The Morgenstern Trio, having applied a rigorous yet creative approach to piano trio repertoire over the years, comes impressively close to that ideal.

Condecorated with the most prestigious prizes and awards (Vienna, Melbourne, ARD, KLRITA), the Morgenstern Trio is at home on the major concert podiums of the world, including Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Vienna Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and the Philharmonies of Essen, Cologne and Berlin. However, friends of the trio know quite well that some of the group’s greatest moments often emerge in the smallest venues – in a true sense, chamber music.