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Melbourne Piano Trio

by Suzanne Yanko 10th June, 2011
written by Suzanne Yanko 10th June, 2011
791

The newly formed Melbourne Piano Trio – comprising violinist Ji Won Kim, cellist Chris Hewlett, and pianist Hoang Pham – came to this concert boasting a successful debut in America that will see them returning before the year is out. The ensemble faced some challenges on the night: a world premiere of a difficult piece, an audience with some restless younger members – and, for Ji Won Kim, a cough which interfered with her bowing. And yet the concert was a triumph. The program was well-chosen and all three players have recognition as fine musicians in their own right, well able to master the three demanding works on the program. But it was the accord between the three – evident from the first few bars – that gave the Melbourne Piano Trio its assured, professional sound. Beeth¬oven’s Trio in D major, op70 no1 is known as the ‘Ghost’ Trio thanks to elements in the second movement. Hoang Pham remarked in his introduction that the vibrant contrasts of the piece were exciting – and certainly the playing made it so. The opening inspired confidence as there was a cohesive approach to its unison runs and scales. The pianist delivered a limpid flow of notes as the violin, then cello, picked up the melody, with a harmonious balance right up to the four soft unison notes that rounding off the first section. The audience couldn’t wait, but applauded loudly – even before the movement that gave the trio its name. At first the strings were prominent, but the piano soon found a gentle ‘resting-place’ from which it asserted itself – not in volume, but in its steadiness and ghost-like wavering energy. Kim’s violin produced music of extraordinary sweetness and maturity, and the cello followed suit. The dialogue with the piano was testament to the harmonic beauty of Beethoven, something that can be lost in the sheer power of the composer’s larger works. The final movement’s energetic presto presented a different kind of challenge and, while not all passages were equally crisp, the players’ regular ‘checking in’ with each other was the secret of their impressive timing. The central work in the program – and the one of greatest interest – was the world premiere of Paul Dean’s Fractured Moments, written specifically for the Melbourne Piano Trio. An intensely personal work, it reflects on the composer’s father’s descent into Alzheimers. The opening of ‘Distorted signals’ was so quiet that it was unclear when the music had started, but soon there was a soft dialogue between violin and cello. As this segued into the “raging” of ‘Do not go gentle’ (inspired by the Dylan Thomas poem) the trio’s perfect timing and understanding held them in good stead. ‘Episodes’, with its often discordant and strident sound, revealed a virtuosity in the players – and an extraordinary sound from the piano, like a clock or chime or bell. Finally, ‘Dying of the light’ had the cello creating a mood of deep sorrow, with the piano and violin following suit. The sound was minimal as the work moved to the final ‘Vigil’ – and, I regret to say, was rudely interrupted by a mobile phone going off immediately behind me. It was clearly audible to all in the hall, particularly when its owner proceeded to answer it! It ruined the ending of the work for me, but I joined in the loud and well-deserved applause for the composer and the Trio at the end. (I was just surprised that Paul Dean didn’t throttle the mobile-offender who had ruined the ending of his fine work!). Dvorak always provides the litmus test for chamber ensembles, so it was fitting that the concert ended with his Trio no 3 in F minor, op 65. The Melbourne Piano Trio triumphed in this, as in the other works on the program, capturing its intensity and harmonic sweetness. They could have performed on any concert stage in the world and been as acclaimed as they were at this promising debut in Melbourne. Melbourne Piano Trio melbournepianotrio.com National Tour: Australian National Academy of Music, South Melbourne, June 7 Pilgrim Church, Adelaide, June 15 The Independent Theatre, Sydney, June 17

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Suzanne Yanko

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Events Calendar

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  • July 2025

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1 event, 2

8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Tempo Rubato: Listening Room #6: New York Minimalism & the Avant Garde

July 2 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

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7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Live at Toorak: Richard Tognetti x Konstantin Shamray

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Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Mozart and the Mendelssohns

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$20 – $105
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Orchestra Victoria: Indie Symphony II: Video Games in Concert

July 3 @ 8:00 pm - 10:20 pm Event Series

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$24.50 – $99

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8:00 pm - 10:20 pm Event Series

Orchestra Victoria: Indie Symphony II: Video Games in Concert

July 4 @ 8:00 pm - 10:20 pm Event Series

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Tempo Rubato: Darcy Gilkerson – A Glow in the Dark

July 7 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

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7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

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July 10 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra: Pastorale

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MSO and Short Black Opera: Yinya dana: lighting the path

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MSO and Short Black Opera: Yinya dana: lighting the path

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Tempo Rubato: Simon Svoboda | Callum Mintzis

July 11 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Tempo Rubato: Simon Svoboda | Callum Mintzis

SET 1 Australian/Finnish, Finland-based musician Simon Svoboda is back to perform in Melbourne, joined on stage by dear friend and cello…

$22

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3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Event Series

BENAUD TRIO 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

July 12 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Event Series

BENAUD TRIO 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

Chamber music at its most spirited. The Benaud Trio is one of Australia's finest and most lively chamber ensembles. Celebrating their…

$40 – $50
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Event Series

BENAUD TRIO 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

July 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Event Series

BENAUD TRIO 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

Chamber music at its most spirited. The Benaud Trio is one of Australia's finest and most lively chamber ensembles. Celebrating their…

$40 – $50

1 event, 13

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra: Pastorale

July 13 @ 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra: Pastorale

Highlighting the warmth and beauty of the MCO sound. One of the most iconic works, Barber’s Adagio for Strings lifts the lid on…

$30 – $144

0 events, 14

0 events, 15

0 events, 16

1 event, 17

7:30 pm - 9:20 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Fiesta! Dvorak’s Cello Concerto & Chindamo

July 17 @ 7:30 pm - 9:20 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Fiesta! Dvorak’s Cello Concerto & Chindamo

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1 event, 19

2:00 pm - 3:50 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Fiesta! Dvorak’s Cello Concerto & Chindamo

July 19 @ 2:00 pm - 3:50 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Fiesta! Dvorak’s Cello Concerto & Chindamo

From New York to Peru. Conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya returns to lead the MSO, opening with his fellow Peruvian’s work Fiesta! and…

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0 events, 20

1 event, 21

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July 21 @ 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm

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Yearning and tenderness German cellist Raphaela Gromes performs Dvořák’s Cello Concerto. Dedicated in part to the composer’s dying sister-in-law, this work…

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1 event, 1

7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

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August 1 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

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Playing the works from their vast back catalogue that have earned the brothers justifiable recognition as Australia’s finest classical guitarists.

$52 – $65

0 events, 2

0 events, 3

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July 2
July 2 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Tempo Rubato: Listening Room #6: New York Minimalism & the Avant Garde

July 3
July 3 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Live at Toorak: Richard Tognetti x Konstantin Shamray

July 3 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Mozart and the Mendelssohns

July 3 @ 8:00 pm - 10:20 pm Event Series

Orchestra Victoria: Indie Symphony II: Video Games in Concert

July 4
July 4 @ 8:00 pm - 10:20 pm Event Series

Orchestra Victoria: Indie Symphony II: Video Games in Concert

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July 7
July 7 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Tempo Rubato: Darcy Gilkerson – A Glow in the Dark

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  • There are no events on this day.
July 10
July 10 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra: Pastorale

July 11
July 11 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

MSO and Short Black Opera: Yinya dana: lighting the path

July 11 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Tempo Rubato: Simon Svoboda | Callum Mintzis

July 12
July 12 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Event Series

BENAUD TRIO 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

July 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Event Series

BENAUD TRIO 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

July 13
July 13 @ 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra: Pastorale

July 17
July 17 @ 7:30 pm - 9:20 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Fiesta! Dvorak’s Cello Concerto & Chindamo

July 19
July 19 @ 2:00 pm - 3:50 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Fiesta! Dvorak’s Cello Concerto & Chindamo

July 21
July 21 @ 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Dvořák’s Cello Concerto – Quick Fix at Half Six

August 1
August 1 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Grigoryan Brothers: Amistad

July 11
July 11 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

MSO and Short Black Opera: Yinya dana: lighting the path

July 11 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Tempo Rubato: Simon Svoboda | Callum Mintzis

July 12
July 12 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Event Series

BENAUD TRIO 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

July 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Event Series

BENAUD TRIO 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

July 13
July 13 @ 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra: Pastorale

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July 17
July 17 @ 7:30 pm - 9:20 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Fiesta! Dvorak’s Cello Concerto & Chindamo

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July 19
July 19 @ 2:00 pm - 3:50 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Fiesta! Dvorak’s Cello Concerto & Chindamo

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July 21
July 21 @ 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Dvořák’s Cello Concerto – Quick Fix at Half Six

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August 1
August 1 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Grigoryan Brothers: Amistad

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