Concert review: Salieca Piano Trio

We all settled in this Sunday morning to hear Brahms’s First Piano Trio in B major. Those unacquainted with it might have spotted it was in a minor key. The rest might have been puzzled by the very slow Scherzo second movement. Eventually, everyone might have wondered why no-one from the Salieca Trio announced that the order of the programme had been switched.

Anyway, the musicians started with Dvořák’s G minor Piano Trio no.2 op.26, and very good it was too. There was firm, robust playing in the first movement, its colours constantly shifting. Cellist Thomas Carroll gave a graceful account of the opening melody, and there was plenty of rich-toned, noble playing from both Carroll and violinist Jack Liebeck in the opening movement. They were splendidly vigorous in the Scherzo and Carroll played the genial Trio with a smile. The finale was flecked with touches of good humour and caprice, with some tremendous flourishes from pianist Amandine Savary.

The opening Allegro moderato of Brahms’s First Trio had much beauteous grandeur, and fruity lyricism from the strings. After the sparkling opening gallop of the Scherzo, the Trio had irresistible insouciance. The musicians led straight into the mysterious opening chords of the Adagio, and the finale was full of restless, dynamic expression.

TIM HOMFRAY