A new group in the making

BILL NEWMAN listens to the Rosamunde Trio

It must have been about three years ago when my old friend and colleague Martino Tirimo literally breathed to me the possibility of forming a trio for piano, violin and cello which would set about tackling the chamber music repertory in a big way.

Apart from being a world-renowned pianist of the highest calibre, Martino's interpretations derive from the old world, which basically means that he has the utmost respect for master performers who bring integrity and lasting pleasure to the classical-romantic musical literature. And this includes paving the way towards a similar treatment of those valuable offsprings amongst twentieth century composers who bear valuable connections to their illustrious forbears.

Well, it has finally happened. I had the great pleasure of hearing the newly constituted Rosamunde Trio at a recital in Mansfield Street, London W1, UK on 7 October 2003. No 22 is the home of Mr and Mrs Bob Boas, who sponsor a charitable trust on behalf of their younger son Nicholas who died in 1998. Its purpose is the support and development of young artists and students of the arts. In addition to providing travel scholarships to those in architecture at The British School in Rome, grants to young musicians and singers enable them to attend masterclasses, like Prussia Cove. Funds are raised through concerts by outstanding talents, stemming from leading music schools, and by singers from English National Opera.

By kind permission and the gracious invitation of Martino, I also enjoyed the marvellous buffet and drinks. The cooking and generous portions automatically led me in the direction of the kitchen area where I thanked the beautiful female chef who invited me to partake of a second helping!

Martino's two illustrious colleagues are the Lithuanian-Israeli violinist Ben Sayevich, who commenced his studies at the Churlonis School for the Performing Arts in Vilnius. Among his teachers was the famed Dorothy Delay, and Ben holds the Artist Diploma from the New England Conservatory. He is now professor at Kansas University. North America, Europe and the Far East know him very well, indeed through his many concerts, and he is a specialist in Alban Berg's Violin Concerto in direct line from the Louis Krasner tradition. Vivaldi's The Four Seasons with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra is a featured recording in his solo repertoire, and recently he performed the Brahms Double Concerto with Colin Carr in Colorado.

Daniel Vels, the cellist, first came to my attention as Tirimo's partner in the Supraphon commercial recording of the two Mendelssohn Cello and Piano Sonatas. He was winner of the 1976 Prague Spring International Competition and a Silver Medalist at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1978. Born in Prague, his studies were afterwards continued in Moscow, where he graduated. Now a top-line soloist with major orchestras and festivals, Mackerras, Baudo, Tortelier, Pesek, Belohlávek and the late Vaclav Neumann all praise his musicianship. His noteworthy discography over several record labels shares Romantic and Czech music by Brahms, Schumann, Dvorák, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns with Martinu, Sommer, Hanus and Kabelac, and he also specialises in contemporary scores. Guest soloist with the Czech Philharmonic, he is also professor and vice-dean at Prague's Academy of Performing Arts.

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