DELPHI TRIO piano trio

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ARTISTSAriel

“Listening in concert to the Delphi Trio is experiencing sheer beauty.

These three wonderful artists offer music making of the highest

rank, as one very seldom encounters. Integrity and sincerity

combined with amazing musical depth and joy. I was deeply

touched by their stunning performances of music by Brahms,

Mendelssohn, and Ravel.”

–Henk Guittart, Violist, Schoenberg Quartet (1976-2009); Artistic Director,

Fall and Winter Music Programs, The Banff Centre (2006-2013)

“…rich and committed string tone, dazzling pianism, rhythmic

flexibility and risky tempi…”

–Richard Storm, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

“Articulate, expressive work at the keyboard was matched by spot-on

ensemble playing and a beautifully blended sound from the strings…

The Delphi players brought to [Ravel’s] masterpiece an impressive

dynamic variety, from cataclysmic keyboard fortissimos (accompa-

nied by frenetic bursts of string arpeggios) to ethereal pastel mists

singed by softly sustained harmonics…LaDeur’s assured virtuosity

was complemented by first-rate string playing…”

–Loren Ludwig, San Francisco Classical Voice

“…Delphi captured those evocative qualities that one would

associate with the best of lyric poetry.”

–Stephen Smoliar, San Francisco Examiner

short bio

press

Praised for “…spot-on ensemble playing and a beautifully blended sound…” (San Francisco Classical Voice), the Delphi Trio

burst onto the classical music scene in 2010 and have since become known for their intensity and communicative power.

The Delphi Trio’s repertoire is grounded in the immensely rich classic literature combined with great works of our time. Delphi

have commissioned and premiered works by Sahba Aminikia and Max Stoffregen and are currently developing a new project with

William Bolcom.

The Trio have completed artistic residencies at the Bear Valley Music Festival, Old First Concerts in San Francisco, Dakota Sky Interna-

tional Piano Festival, and the Banff Centre for the Arts. The 2013-2014 season includes appearances at Redwood Arts Council, Sunset

Concerts, and the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, and an evening of chamber music with members of the San José Chamber

Orchestra curated by the Delphi Trio.

DELPHI TRIO piano trio

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ARTISTSAriel

PASSAGES

This program explores the nature of transition by examining the

passage of time, the passing of one life to another, and the passage

through suffering into inspired vision. Toru Takemitsu’s Between Tides

(1993) evokes a sonic world that manipulates the passage of time;

tranquility interrupted by surges of drama draw the listener into a

space where time stands still. Bedřich Smetana’s piano trio, written in

1855 after the death of two of his daughters, embodies the emotional

climate surrounding its creation. The trio includes a variety of folk

inspired songs and dances, making it profoundly human in its combi-

nation of joy and sadness – in the end, it is a celebration of life.

Beethoven’s Trio in B flat, Op. 97, is not only a bridge to his visionary

late music, it was also the last work that Beethoven performed publicly

at the keyboard with his deteriorating hearing. Perhaps there was also

a liberation from external considerations, as Beethoven’s late works

began to exist according to their own natural laws. The “Arch-

duke” trio has a glow of noble eloquence that has made it one of

the best loved works of the genre.

Works to be performed on the “Passages” program include:

Toru Takemitsu, Between Tides

Bedřich Smetana, Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 15

Beethoven, Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97, “Archduke”

PASS THE TORCH

In this program, Delphi explore Mozart’s far reaching and multi-

faceted influence on Chopin and Saint-Saëns, two compos-

ers who carried Mozart’s spirit through their work and ideals.

Mozart’s piano trios offer a richly varied survey of the many

musical styles in his compositional palette. The last trio in G, K.

564, inhabits a world of open space, sometimes so much so that

it disconcerts. While the measures containing real darkness can

be counted on one hand, the perceptive listener will intuitively

recognize the Mozart of his later years underneath the apparent

simplicity. Chopin appeared before the public only thirty times

in his life, but when chamber music was part of the programme,

he preferred to begin with Mozart’s trio in E, K. 542. Chopin’s

forays into composition for instruments other than the piano are

relatively scarce; however, his Trio in g minor, op. 8, his only es-

say in the genre, was a work of which he was proud, with good

reason. Camille Saint-Saëns remained remarkably consistent in

his values throughout his long life, holding high the ideals of

form, clarity, and harmony expressed through taste and virtu-

osity, and looked constantly to Bach and Mozart as spiritual

mentors. His Trio in e minor, Op. 92 was written while traveling in

Algeria in the spring of 1892. The trio embodies Saint-Saëns’s

artistic priorities, yet brims with a genuine fervor and sentiment

sometimes lacking in his other works.

program offerings

DELPHI TRIO piano trio

DELPHI TRIO piano trio

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ARTISTSArielprogram offerings (cont.)Works to be performed on the “Pass the Torch” program

include:

Mozart, Trio in G, K. 564

Chopin, Trio in G Minor, Op. 8

Saint-Saëns, Trio in E Minor Op. 92

SONG AND DANCE

As an incomparable pianist who would go on to open the inner soul

of the instrument in ways previously unimagined, Chopin’s forays

into composition for instruments other than the piano are relatively

scarce. The Trio in G Minor, Op. 8, his only essay in the genre,

was one of which he was proud and with good reason. Chopin

immediately establishes the dramatic flair and spirit of folk dance

in the first movement that continues to pervade the entire piece,

pausing only for a stunning Bel Canto style slow movement where

all three instruments work together as a single organism. Coyote

Plan (2012) was premiered in January 2013 by the Delphi Trio.

Composer Max Stoffregen brings together popular dance music

through the lens of the analogue synthesizer and its sound world.

An eclectic mix of styles, the work includes moments in a “stuttery

half time dub-step”, a quiet landscape of plaintive harmonics, and

a heavy backbeat, among others. Bedřich Smetana’s Piano Trio in g

minor, Op. 15 dates from 1855 during a time of personal upheaval

and grief. Having lost two daughters to illness within a year of each

other, Smetana began work on his piano trio which embodies the

emotional climate surrounding its creation. This work is profoundly

human in its alternation of light and darkness, joy through sadness; it

is in the end, a celebration of life.

Works to be performed on the “Song and Dance” program

include:

Chopin, Trio in G Minor, Op. 8

Max Stoffregen, Coyote Plan*

Smetana, Trio in G Minor, Op. 15

*commissioned and premiered by Delphi

FUTURE CLASSICS

Future Classics features great works by composers of our time,

exploring the dialogue between diverse musical languages.

Beginning with William Bolcom’s Haydn Go Seek, the composer

channels Haydn’s wit and some mock sturm-und-drang that

makes for a delightful opening to this program. Max Stoffre-

gen’s Coyote Plan was written in 2012, commissioned and pre-

miered by the Delphi Trio. Stoffregen brings together popular

dance music through the lens of the analogue synthesizer and

its sound world, creating an atmosphere of subtle electricity and

poignance. This is followed by Sahba Aminikia’s Deltangi-ha of

which the composer writes, “Deltangi-ha is a collection of my

memories from my homeland, Iran, where I have spent most of

my life.” Also commissioned and premiered by the Delphi Trio,

this piece contains the full range of human experience, from

the bustling chaos of Tehran to tender longing of a first love,

unexpressed. The final movement entitled Those who flew away

evokes a haunting memory of the family and friends from whom

the composer is separated. With the hypnotic dulcimer effects

in the piano, Aminikia imagines reaching out to these lost loved

ones in this powerfully dramatic conclusion. The elegant and

sensuous harmonic landscape of Takemitsu’s Between Tides

offers a thoughtful contrast to the humor and lightness of the

Bolcom and Stoffregen and also a respite from the intensity of

Aminikia’s trio. The program concludes with Babadjanian’s great

Trio in f-sharp (1952) which is one of the hidden gems of the

20th-century repertoire. It combines smoldering expressiveness

and sharp rhythmic edge in a harmonic language that is both

popular and highly erudite.

Works to be performed on the “Future Classics” program

include:

William Bolcom, from Haydn Go Seek

Max Stoffregen, Coyote Plan*

Sahba Aminikia, Deltangi-ha*

Toru Takemitsu, Between Tides

Arno Babadjanian, Trio in f-sharp minor

*Commissioned and premiered by the Delphi Trio

DELPHI TRIO piano trio

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CONCERTO RESIDENCY

The Delphi Trio are pleased to offer this unique series of programs

with orchestra, exploring the individuality and unity of the piano

trio. Designed as either a three or four concert residency over the

course of a season or festival, the Delphi Trio perform solo and

double concertos culminating in a performance of Beethoven’s

Triple Concerto. The following are sample programs, final reper-

toire to be determined in consultation with artist representative.

3 Concert Series

PROGRAM 1 – Jeffrey LaDeur, piano

One of the following:

Mozart, Concerto K. 271

Schumann, Concerto Op. 54

Tchaikovsky, Concerto Op. 23

PROGRAM 2 – Liana Bérubé, violin and Michelle Kwon, cello

Brahms, Double Concerto Op. 102

PROGRAM 3

Beethoven, Triple Concerto Op. 56

4 Concert Series

PROGRAM 1- Jeffrey LaDeur, piano

One of the following:

Mozart, Concerto K. 271

Schumann, Concerto Op. 54

Tchaikovsky, Concerto Op. 23

PROGRAM 2 – Michelle Kwon, cello

Cello concerto TBA

PROGRAM 3 – Liana Bérubé, violin

One of the following:

Beethoven, Concerto Op. 61

Mendelssohn, Concerto Op. 64

PROGRAM 4 – Delphi Trio

Beethoven, Triple Concerto Op. 56

MASTERCLASSES & CHAMBER MUSIC COACHINGS

Liana, Michelle, and Jeffrey believe strongly in the value and

importance of sharing their knowledge, experience, and love

for music with others through teaching. The Delphi Trio empha-

size the essential communicative aspect of chamber music and

an approach to interpretation based on the unity of the score

rather than the separation of its parts.

Having worked with students of all ages and levels of experi-

ence, the trio have become known for their inspiring chamber

music workshops and masterclasses around the country.

LECTURE RECITAL, ROLE PLAYING

In this engaging program, Liana, Michelle, and Jeffrey share

their thoughts on the dynamic music written for piano trio and

the performers’ approach to interpretation. The vast and rich lit-

erature for the piano trio requires the players to be able to shift

roles on a dime, one moment stepping forward into the spot-

light, another contributing support and energy. This program

features works by Haydn, Chopin, Brahms, Cowell, and more.

Praised for their unity of ensemble and ability to both highlight

and blend their sounds, the Delphi Trio’s Role Playing offers au-

diences of all ages a fascinating look at chamber music through

the eyes of this exceptional ensemble.

POST-CONCERT CHAT

The Delphi Trio offers an informal Q&A to audience members,

students, faculty, and presenters interested in getting to know

the ensemble and its mission. Possible topics include program-

ming, rehearsal technique, and the importance of trust among

performers of chamber music.

additional offerings