The Essex Piano Trio

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation proudly presents the Essex Piano Trio as part of its Tenth Anniversary Series on April 18th at 7:30pm. The Trio is comprised of Beverly Soll, piano; Ashley Offret, violin; and David Cabral, cello. They will perform a “A Conversation among Friends,” a program that explores the friendships between the late 19th and early 20th century composers including Ravel, Vaughan Williams, Tchaikovsky and Arensky.

Part I of the performance will focus on the friendship between French composer Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughan Williams through their music from 1899 through World War I. This will include transcriptions for piano trio of Ravel’s Pavane for a Dead Princess, two movements from Le Tombeau de Couperin, portions of Ravel’s Piano Trio, and Vaughan Williams’ Six Studies in English Folksong.

Part II examines the relationship between Russian composers Anton Arensky and friend and mentor Peter Tchaikovsky, with pieces from their iconic, elegiac piano trios, Tchaikovsky’s op. 50 and Arensky’s op. 32, a musical tribute to cellist Charles Davidoff.

After playing together for several years throughout New England, the musical friends known as the Essex Piano Trio formalized their working relationship in 2017. The concert title “A Conversation among Friends,” borrowing a descriptive phrase from American biographer Catherine Bowen, alludes to their audience-friendly concert format of interesting music interspersed with casual commentary.

The Trio’s primary goal has been to grow as musicians while making the best music possible to share with audiences. They bring many perspectives from their academic backgrounds and professional lives as educators and performers to present unique programs like “A Conversation among Friends.” We hope you will join us to experience this extraordinary concert!

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