Trio Arkel welcomes Victor Fournelle-Blain back as their guest violist for Season 8 online.

UPDATE FROM TRIO ARKEL

Trio Arkel opens its 8th season with a virtual concert, expertly capturing the sound waves of the masterful C Minor Piano Quartet by Johannes Brahms, preceded by two youthful compositions by American composer Jennifer Higdon and none other than the great Ludwig Van B.

Streaming on Sunday, November 8 at 3 p.m., the program is the typical Trio Arkel combination of beloved repertoire mixed with new discoveries.

About the program, violinist Marie Berard says, “Composers often love to quote each other — in this case, keep a close ear on Jennifer Higdon for hints of Wagner and Happy Birthday whereas Brahms chose an unmistakable bit of Beethoven. Beethoven himself was only 15 years old when he wrote the C major piano quartet, so it may not have occurred to him yet to quote his elders!”

Cellist Winona Zelenka speaks of the experience of chamber music at this time. “When we play together, it’s spiritual, humbling, fun and intense just like always,” she says.”We’re sharing this intimacy, and a live recording is another way of doing it…the recording is raw and unedited and a piece of art in itself.”

On the recording itself, sound engineer Ron Searles says, “In this age of livestreaming, recording at Trinity St.Paul’s Centre on the Jeanne Lamon stage has amazing benefits — the natural acoustics are so live and generous while being very clear as well, that capturing the beautiful balance of Trio Arkel and guests requires only a single pair of microphones, well placed.”

5 things you may not know about our program:

• Did you know that Beethoven was a teenager when he wrote his C major piano quartet?
• Did you know that only one other composer before Beethoven ever wrote a piano quartet?
• Did you know that American composer Jennifer Higdon taught herself the flute while in high school?
• Do you know another piece in C minor that Brahms wrote where he uses the very unrelated key of E major for the slow movement?
• Did you know that Brahms quotes Beethoven’s famous «Fate theme»in the last movement of the C minor piano quartet?

Catch Trio Arkel perform online on November 8 at 3 p.m. Tickets via Eventbrite. A contribution of $20 is suggested.

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