2024-05-28 11:15:36
The music ensemble known as ZEN Trio is deceiving in its title. His performances are by no means calm, quite the opposite, they overflow with spontaneity and youthful power. And its members proudly proclaim that no live performance will ever be the identical.
“We attempt to stay within the second on stage,” says violinist Esther Yoo. “Even when we’re enjoying the identical repertoire on tour or repeating a program from earlier than, it is somewhat totally different each time. We get pleasure from attempting totally different approaches,” he provides. Guests to this yr’s Prague Spring pageant will be capable of see for themselves, the place the trio will carry out on Might 25 within the Dvořák Corridor of the Rudolfinum.
The title ZEN Trio doesn’t discuss with Buddhist teachings. It is an acronym for its members, who’re pianist Zhang Zuo, violinist Esther Yoo and cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan. Their mixture is one thing typical of the time during which classical music is aware of no borders.
Thirty-four-year-old pianist Zhang Zuo is Chinese language-American, however has lived in Berlin because the age of 5. She later studied in Europe, the USA and China with personalities reminiscent of Leon Fleisher and Alfred Brendel. In the present day, he works alternately within the German capital, New York, and in addition organizes a chamber music pageant in Shanghai, China.
Twenty-nine-year-old Esther Yoo was born within the USA to a Korean household. She lived in Brussels from the age of six and in addition studied throughout Europe earlier than settling in London.
Hakhnazaryan, a 35-year-old native of Yerevan, studied the cello from the age of six in Armenia, from the place he moved along with his dad and mom to Moscow, the place he nonetheless managed to attend classes with the well-known Mstislav Rostropovich. He drew consideration to himself in 2011 by successful the Tchaikovsky Worldwide Competitors when he was solely 22 years outdated. In the present day he commutes between Vienna and Armenia.
All of them have comparable successes behind them. Zhang Zuo gained the primary yr of the Worldwide Piano Competitors in China and was a finalist within the Queen Elizabeth Competitors, which, just like the Sibelius Worldwide Competitors, was gained by Esther Yoo for a change. All three had already began their solo profession when in 2013 and 2014 the British BBC chosen them for its New Era Artists program. It all the time lasts two years and provides younger abilities the chance to provide concert events and report.
“We knew about one another, however we solely bought to know one another by the filming of Brahms’ first piano trio for the BBC,” recollects Esther Yoo. “Musically and personally, we bought alongside so properly that we determined to proceed our collaboration and begin a trio,” he provides.
They launched their first album of 2017 on the well-known Deutsche Grammophon label. Along with Brahms’ Trio No. 1 in B main, they included Dvořák’s Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor with the subtitle Dumky. “They’re probably the most superb works within the repertoire of piano trios. However we even have a relationship with them as a result of we began with them and by enjoying them we strengthened {our relationships},” notes the violinist.
Three years later, Deutsche Grammophon once more launched their second album, Burning By the Chilly, on which they impressed with an eclectic mixture of works by Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Rachmaninov, Aram Khachaturian and the Twentieth-century Armenian composer Arno Babajanian. “Our debut was very conventional, so this time we went in a barely totally different course sonically and emotionally,” compares the violinist. Amongst different issues, they included a brand new association of Rachmanin’s well-liked piece Vocalise in an association by the cellist’s mom.
Musicians do not movie extra often as a result of it takes quite a lot of time for them to even get collectively in a single place. All of them have full calendars as sought-after soloists. “All of us have our personal careers, so discovering time for a trio is just not straightforward,” admits the violinist, who often units herself the purpose of finishing one undertaking a yr. Whether or not it is filming or touring collectively. “It’s because of the truth that we all the time make the time to satisfy collectively in the long run that we have now managed to remain collectively for ten years,” he emphasizes.
ZEN Trio will carry out in Prague for the primary time. | Picture: Marco Borggreve
The truth that they don’t carry out completely in a trio is taken into account a bonus by the musician. “We apply the expertise we every acquire in our solo careers within the chamber trio. And what we study within the trio is helpful in our solo profession,” says Esther Yoo.
However he additionally mentions the sensible facet of the matter, reminiscent of touring as a trio is extra enjoyable than when an artist travels alone.
At Prague Spring, they are going to current a program much like their debut album. Besides that after Brahms’s Piano Trio No. 1 in B main, Dvořák’s Piano Trio No. 3 in F minor might be heard. “After we’re in Prague, we wished to play one thing by Dvořák. His third piano trio appeared acceptable to us as a result of he was closely influenced by Brahms when composing it. It’s stated that it’s the most Brahmsian of his works,” the violinist reminds that Dvořák admired the older a colleague of Brahms. And he in flip beneficial it to his writer. “It appeared to us that two such works may complement one another properly in a single live performance,” provides the violinist.
All three have already visited the Czech capital, however every individually. “We have all the time wished to play at Prague Spring. So we will not wait,” they are saying.
Video: ZEN Trio performs Brahms
ZEN Trio in Prague may also play Brahms’s Piano Trio No. 1 in B main, which they recorded for his or her debut album. Picture: Marco Borggreve | Video: Deutsche Grammophon