L O C A L H E R O E S

Kristian Chong & Friends

ARTISTSLi-Wei Qin celloAdam Chalabi violinKristian Chong piano

LI-WEI, ADAM AND KRISTIAN PLAY TRIOSFriday 24 July 7pm, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall

PROGRAMLudwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)Sonata for piano and cello Op.69 in A I Allegro ma non tanto II Scherzo: Allegro molto III Adagio cantabile–Allegro vivace

Giovianni Sollima (1962–)La Folia (for solo cello)

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)Piano Trio No.1 Op.8 in B I Allegro con brio II Scherzo: Allegro molto III Adagio IV Allegro

ABOUT THE MUSICThe most popular of all the Beethoven’s piano and cello Sonatas, the Op.69 Sonata is one of his most inspired chamber works, composed between 1806–1808. By this time, Beethoven’s deafness was acute, if not complete. In a tragic letter from October 1802, Beethoven admitted that he harboured thoughts of suicide. “It was only my art that held me back. Oh, it seemed to me impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt was within me.” Yet this sonata is one of the most positive works imaginable; from the opening phrase, it radiates serenity, humour and joy. It is a thoroughly classical work, its proportions carefully measured, with the themes answering each other in perfect symmetry. It is also the first equal sonata for piano and cello, with previous sonatas either cello solos with continuo accompaniment or, like Beethoven’s first two, piano sonatas with cello obbligato. Here, every theme is perfectly conceived for both instruments; Beethoven had invented a new genre.

La Folia (2007) by cellist and composer Giovanni Sollima is approximately seven minutes in duration. It starts with a pure still theme in long notes, which is slowly embellished, at times with pizzicato while the bow is still playing, and later in more complicated forms. The music is contrasted with Mediterranean rhythms, and is extremely virtuosic at times, but the virtuosity always balanced with reappearances of the still thematic material.

In 1854, 21-year-old Brahms published his first chamber composition (the Piano Trio Op.8), which was notable as Brahms was a fierce self-critic and consigned several early chamber works to the fire. In 1890, a mature Brahms returned to Op.8, of which he felt compelled to revise. He claimed, “I didn’t provide it with a new wig, just combed and arranged its hair a little”. His changes were in fact substantial: he shortened the work by about one-third, significantly modifying all but the Scherzo. It was around this time that Brahms decided to retire. Therefore, Op.8 has special significance for Brahms the chamber composer: in its final form, the trio bears the hand, the mind and the heart of both the young and elder Brahms.

Lasting nearly half of its total duration, the first movement opens with a beautiful theme in the piano and cello. A restless darkness dominates most of the Trio from the first movement’s secondary themes to the brooding Scherzo and finally to the wind-blown sweep of the

ABOUT LOCAL HEROES 2015This year the series shares the stories of our World War I heroes, commemorating the ANZAC Centenary with the personal histories of over 80 Victorians involved in the Great War.

This concert pays tribute to Lieutenant Robert Grieve VC whose story is available at melbournerecital.com.au/trios Printed copies will be available post concert (please ask our front of house staff for assistance).*

*Please note, for greener performances, stories are printed to share one between two people. We encourage you to visit melbournerecital.com.au/stories to download our publication, view images and read through the stories at your own leisure.

NEXT CONCERTKristian Chong & Friends: Beethoven, Hedonism & JubilationTuesday 10 November 2pm & 6pm, SalonFor more info and tickets visit melbournerecital.com.au/kristianchong

PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT PARTNER

ABOUT THE ARTISTSKristian Chong is one of Australia’s leading pianists and has performed throughout Australasia, Africa, Asia, Europe and the US. Highlights as a soloist include Rachmaninoff’s 3rd with Sydney Symphony, Rachmaninoff’s Paganini Rhapsody in Beijing, Britten with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Ravel’s Left Hand Concerto in Dunedin and Melbourne. A heavily sought after chamber musician, Kristian’s recent collaborations include tours with the Australian String Quartet, violinists Sophie Rowell, Natsuko Yoshimoto, Jack Liebeck, Elizabeth Layton, Ilya Konovalov, (concertmaster Israel Philharmonic), Frank Huang (concertmaster New York Philharmonic) Tinalley and Flinders Quartets, and baritone Teddy-Tahu Rhodes. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Piers Lane AO and Christopher Elton, and with Stephen McIntyre AM at the University of Melbourne where Kristian teaches piano and chamber music.

Li-Wei Qin has appeared worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician. He was awarded the Silver Medal at the 11th Tchaikovsky International Competition, and has enjoyed successful collaborations with leading orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, BBC Symphony, Sydney and Melbourne Symphonies, and the Zurich and Australian Chamber Orchestras. In recital and chamber music, Li-Wei is a regular guest at the Wigmore Hall, BBC Proms and the City of London, Jerusalem, Rheingau and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Music Festivals, and the Lincoln Centre Chamber Music Society, New York, collaborating with musicians including Daniel Hope, Nabuko Imai, Mischa Maisky, David Finckel, Wu Han and Peter Frankel. Of Li-Wei’s Elgar & Walton concerti recording with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, (ABC Classics 2014), Gramophone stated: “a superbly stylish, raptly intuitive performer of whom I’m sure we’ll hear plenty more!” During this season, Li-Wei will make his debuts with the La Verdi Orchestra Milan and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, perform at the Konzerthaus Berlin and return to the Adelaide, Queensland and Shanghai Symphonies, the China and Auckland Philharmonic Orchestras and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music.

Adam Chalabi was Concertmaster of Orchestra Victoria between 2009-2012 before being appointed its Artistic Director until 2014. He is also first violinist of the Tinalley String Quartet which has performed to critical acclaim worldwide. In 2012, Adam was appointed to the full-time faculty of the Australian National Academy of Music where he held the position of Head of Strings before taking up his current Professorship at the University of Queensland. Born in 1977, Adam attended the junior department of Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Purcell School of Music before completing studies at the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester) with Maciej Rakowski. In 2001 Adam won a position in the Zurich Chamber Orchestra 1st violins and in 2004 was appointed to Principal 2nd violin. In Switzerland he also worked as Principal 2nd violin in Camerata Bern and Orchestre de la Suisse Romandem.

Lady Marigold Southey AC The Klein Foundation Brian & Esther BenjaminWarwick & Paulette BisleyAndrew & Theresa Dyer

Jean Hadges Dr Garry Joslin & Prof Dimity Reed AMCraig ReevesSkipp Williamson & Carol HaynesMajlis Pty Ltd

LOCAL HEROES LEADERSHP CIRCLE:

Finale. While there is lightness in the B major, much of the Trio gravitates to minor keys, ending, despite its title on a B minor chord. Typical of Brahms, the textures are thick, frequently juxtaposing the heavy romantic piano with the strings unified in a variety of parallel harmonies and symmetric counter motions. Offsetting such weight is the third movement, a movement of incredible repose and introspection.

© Kristian Chong, 2015