Trios From the Edge

Piano trios with guest artist Angela Park: Beethoven's Archduke Trio, Hatzis's Postcards from the Edge, and Shostakovich's Piano Trio Beethoven - Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97 "Archduke" Composed in just three weeks in March 1811, the "Archduke" Trio was dedicated to Beethoven's friend, pupil, and patron Archduke Rudolph of Austria - one of roughly a dozen major works Beethoven himself played the piano part at the 1814 premiere, though his encroaching deafness made it a rough night: the violinist and composer Louis Spohr, who witnesssed a rehearsal, called it simply "not a good performance." It would be Beethoven's last public appearance as a pianist. Despite that inauspicious debut, the Archduke has endured as one of his most beloved chamber works - expansive, noble, and warm, it marked the close of Beethoven's contributions to the piano trio genre on the highest note possible. Hatzis - Old Photographs 0ld Photographs is a movement for piano trio alone from the multimedia music theatre work Constantinople, scored for mezzo~soprano, Middle Eastern singer (alto) violin, violoncello, piano and digital audio and visual media. Within the context of Constantinople, 0ld Photographs provides an antidote to the heartrending intensity of several of the work's other movements. Unlike the rest of the movements in Constantinople, Old Photographs is totally based on western musical idioms and starts with an introspective theme for solo piano stylistically reminiscent of the music of Robert Schumann. As the work progresses the violin and cello enter and the music begins to slowly drift stylistically away from the classical/romantic mould of the opening and towards early 20th century popular idioms reminiscent of Astor Piazzolla's music. (Hatzis) Shostakovich - Piano Trio Composed in 1944 amid the chaos of World War II, this trio stands out as one of Shostakovich’s most emotionally charged chamber pieces. He dedicated it to his dear friend Ivan Sollertinsky, weaving personal grief into a larger idea that reflects the wartime atrocities. The result is a work brimming with raw intensity and sudden bursts of biting irony. (Mostoufi) Tickets - $40* Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 7:30 PM Trinity St. Paul's Centre, Jeanne Lamon Hall Tickets will be for general seating. Out of respect for our guests, our performance is a scent-free environment. Questions? Please contact [email protected] . Not available to enjoy our performance? Please consider a donation in support of our work bringing music to our communities. A tax receipt will be available upon request - please contact [email protected] for more information. Season 14 is generously sponsored by