Curtis on Tour: Trio Zimbalist

Parnassos Literary Society

Curtis on Tour: Trio Zimbalist

The Nina von Maltzahn Global Touring Initiative
of the Curtis Institute of Music

Saturday, May 20 2023
start time: 20:30

Trio Zimbalist, acclaimed for its “precision and feverish intensity” (EfSyn), returns to Athens to perform at the Parnassos Literary Society, in the context of “TIME OFFLINE Sessions” concert series. The piano trio performs BeethovenΆs iconic “Archduke” trio and DvořákΆs luxuriant “Dumky” trio. The group is comprised of three celebrated soloists – violinist Josef Špaček, cellist Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin, and pianist George Xiaoyuan Fu—all distinguished alumni of the renowned Curtis Institute of Music. This performance is part of Curtis on Tour, the schoolΆs Nina von Maltzahn global touring initiative. DonΆt miss this chance to experience “pure enjoyment!” (Athinorama) with Trio Zimbalist.

Concert Program

Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 97 ("Archduke") (1811)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

This Beethoven work was completed in 1811 and he dedicated it to Archduke Rudolph of Austria, the youngest of the twelve children of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. Rudolph was an amateur pianist, patron, friend and composition student of Beethoven. Beethoven dedicated around a dozen of his compositions to him. The Archduke Trio is one of Beethoven's 'middle period' works.

I. Allegro moderato
II. Scherzo. Allegro
III. Andante cantabile, ma però con moto
IV. Allegro moderato

Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90, B. 166 ("Dumky") (1891) 
Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904)

The Trio Dumky is one of the composer's best-known works. In the singular dumka the term was often used by Dvořák as well as by other Slavic composers to denote a mocking, introspective composition interspersed with lively, moody short sections. The work was premiered in 1891 in Prague with the composer himself at the piano.

I. Lento maestoso – Allegro quasi doppio movimento
II. Poco Adagio – Vivace non troppo
III. Andante – Vivace non troppo
IV. Andante moderato – Allegretto scherzando – Meno mosso
V. Allegro
VI. Lento maestoso