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8 October 2012
The Poneke Trio gave a glowing performance at the Concert Chamber on Saturday evening.
Although newly-formed, the group brought great experience and authority in chamber music to a rewarding programme which was rich in European folk music influences.
Their playing was marked right through by a very satisfying quality, and they promise to be a notable addition to our music scene.
Dvorak’s Dumky Trio, so musically bountiful and ranging from gentle to robust, gave Poneke Trio a splendid chance to show off their merit.
They combined precision with freshness, got exemplary balance, and there were thoughtful contrasts between the dramatic and lyrical passages.
As with the rest of the programme Richard Mapp’s light touch on the piano held everything together nicely.
Kodaly’s Duo for Violin and Cello was a riveting dialogue between the two instruments.
The adroit interchange between Anna van der Zee’s supple violin bowing and Paul Mitchell’s singing cello was continually absorbing, and most effective when cantabile strings were backed by percussive sounds.
In Brahms’s Piano Trio No.2, Poneke made the most of its warm melodies and folk themes, and skilfully blended the Romantic and folk styles.