Three of a kind

RENOWNED British chamber musicians The Sitkovetsky Trio will perform works by Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Mendelssohn and Australian composer Lachlan Skipworth at their Musica Viva Tasmania concert in Hobart on Monday.

Founding trio members Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin) and Wu Qian (piano) have been joined by cellist Bartholomew Lafollette for their current Australian tour. Sitkovetsky said Rachmaninov’s

Trio Elegiaque No.1 would provide a good start for the concert.

“He was only 19 when he wrote it, and in some ways it is modelled on the Tchaikovsky Piano Trio,” he said.

“You can really hear Rachmaninov’s incredible lyricism and amazing melodic writing, but you can also hear it is not the mature Rachmaninov. “In contrast, the Shostakovich

Piano Trio No.2 is at the absolute peak of his powers.

“It was dedicated to a close friend who had just passed away, and it is an incredibly emotional and powerful work.

“You can hear the tragedy both of an individual and of a people, something he brought out vividly in his music.

“We have only performed it once or twice, so we are very much looking forward to playing it on our Australian tour.”

Skipworth’s Piano Trio was commissioned for the 2015 Musica Viva Festival.

“We really like the piece and have enjoyed working on it,” Sitkovetsky said.

“It has a lot of rhythmic vitality and at the same time beautiful lyrical moments.

‘It’s important to build the piano trio repertoire, and we’re excited to play this work.”

The final work on the program will be Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No.1.

“It’s a very personal piece for us and we have a great affinity for it,” Sitkovetsky said.

“It was the first work we ever played together, and more recently we recorded it.

“It has such a vitality and optimism and finishes on an incredible high.”

The Sitkovetsky Trio will perform at the Hobart Town Hall from 8pm on Monday.

Tickets are $55-$83, available from www.theatreroyal.com.au Student “rush” tickets are $15 at the door.