Delphi Trio: M. Kwon, J. LaDeur, L. Berube

BALCOM TRIO HIGHLIGHTS DELPHI'S RAC CONCERT IN OCCIDENTAL

The Redwood Arts Council audience first met the Delphi Trio (Jeffrey LaDeur, (piano), Liana Berube (violin), and cellist Michelle Kwon) in 2013, and subsequent concerts in the same Occidental hall have become crowd favorites. The January 20th program before a capacity audience seemed to have enthusiasm flowing both ways, performers and listeners engaged in a musical partnership.

Opening with a dramatic flourish, the Brahms C Minor Trio (Op. 101) was played with warmth and clear nuanced phrasing. The instrumental balance was excellent throughout and the delightful freedom of expression never disturbed clarity of structure and form of the work composed in 1887.

The Bolcom Piano Trio (2014) was written for and dedicated to the Delphi, and is one of the more interesting and beautiful works to be composed for a trio ensemble in recent years. The first movement sounds as a stormy reflection on the Brahms C Minor Trio, and the transcendentally lovely second movement, described by the composer as “old man’s music,” seemed to touch the audience in a deeply spiritual way. The third and final movement was classic Bolcom with elements of the Great American Songbook and ragtime, full of surprises, wit, motion, and with a charming ending.

After an intermission full of lively audience discussion, the musicians returned for Beethoven’s E Flat Trio, Op. 70, No. 2. This is a fascinating work in which Beethoven looks back to an older and simpler compositional style that is combined with the complex musical discoveries of this period in his life. These musicians found and conveyed drama, darkness, light, sparkle, humor, folk elements and the great riches in the writing. It appears to be one of the Delphi’s favorite pieces, and having performed it for many years there was an ease of communication between the instrumentalists and thoughtful and natural community of interpretation. A long standing ovation followed.

Then, after a “Happy Birthday” for a local audience member, an encore was offered - a lullaby written by Evan Price of the Turtle Island Quartet for the birth of twins to a colleague. It was beautiful and touching ending to a memorable chamber music concert.

Nicki Bell contributed to this review.