Review: Hadyn Trio at Clwyd Theatr Cymru

Oct 29 2008 Chester Chronicle

HAYDN TRIO EISENSTADT/Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, October 26

REVIEW/by Jim Howie

AN ARCHDUKE came to town on Sunday. This was no European royal personage but Beethoven’s inimitable Trio in B Flat Major nicknamed the Archduke because it was dedicated to the composer’s patron. It is surely one of the composer’s greatest works in this genre.

Visiting Clwyd Theatr Cymru was top Austrian ensemble the Haydn Trio Eisenstadt in the Aaron and Partners LLP Solicitors’ celebrity season at Mold.

This Archduke Trio ended the programme, played with finesse, controlled energy and pure passion. That essential contrast between perky Scherzo and darker Trio sections was portrayed with polished certainty.

The concert opened with Haydn’s Piano Trio in C Major emphasising the group’s superb timing with a particular gift for the frisky and lyrical themes in turn.

Schumann was the choice for mid-programme. The Piano Trio in D Minor put the stress on the more Romantic emotions of the work.

In all, the three main works plus a lively, speedy encore revealed the ensemble’s fine sense of music expressed with both feeling and an intimate understanding of the compositions they were engaged in.

The audience appreciated pianist Harald Kosik’s remarks that he would love to return to Wales. This was their first visit.

Next concert in the series is on November 20 when the Solstice Quartet perform works by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven, a mixture surely not to be missed.