Biography
Perhaps the Marsyas Trio stands alone among permanent ensembles as the sole combination of flute, cello, and piano. Although the players approach Classical- and Romantic-era repertoire with notable zest, the ensemble’s uncommon makeup has also prompted numerous commissions from present-day composers.
Three musicians who had just completed studies at the Royal Academy of Music established the group in 2009. None of the founding members was British: Australian flutist Helen Vidovich, Canadian cellist Valerie Welbanks, and New Zealand pianist Fei Ren made up the original roster. In January 2017, Australian specialist in contemporary music Zubin Kanga assumed the piano chair in place of Fei Ren, while Olga Stezhko joined as associate pianist.
The ensemble takes its name from the satyr piper of Greek myth who dared Apollo to a musical contest, suffered defeat and death, yet caused the pipes to sound again with his final breaths. Extensive British touring has included appearances in the Arts Council of Wales Night Out series, broadcasts on BBC Radio 3, recitals at Oxford’s Holywell Music Room presented by the Oxford Chamber Music Society, and performances at the Three Choirs Festival and the Vale of Glamorgan Festival. Further afield, the trio has given both concert and broadcast performances in Bulgaria and has appeared in a radio concert at the Société de Musique Contemporaine Lausanne in Switzerland.
Its first recording, the 2015 album A Triple Portrait, presented music by Russian emigré Elena Firsova. In 2018 the ensemble issued In the Theatre of Air, a collection of works by women composers marking the centenary of women’s suffrage in Britain and including pieces by Judith Weir and Laura Bowler. Additional collaborations have involved composer Michael Finnissy, and programs regularly feature the trio transcriptions of folk songs by Haydn and Beethoven.
Three musicians who had just completed studies at the Royal Academy of Music established the group in 2009. None of the founding members was British: Australian flutist Helen Vidovich, Canadian cellist Valerie Welbanks, and New Zealand pianist Fei Ren made up the original roster. In January 2017, Australian specialist in contemporary music Zubin Kanga assumed the piano chair in place of Fei Ren, while Olga Stezhko joined as associate pianist.
The ensemble takes its name from the satyr piper of Greek myth who dared Apollo to a musical contest, suffered defeat and death, yet caused the pipes to sound again with his final breaths. Extensive British touring has included appearances in the Arts Council of Wales Night Out series, broadcasts on BBC Radio 3, recitals at Oxford’s Holywell Music Room presented by the Oxford Chamber Music Society, and performances at the Three Choirs Festival and the Vale of Glamorgan Festival. Further afield, the trio has given both concert and broadcast performances in Bulgaria and has appeared in a radio concert at the Société de Musique Contemporaine Lausanne in Switzerland.
Its first recording, the 2015 album A Triple Portrait, presented music by Russian emigré Elena Firsova. In 2018 the ensemble issued In the Theatre of Air, a collection of works by women composers marking the centenary of women’s suffrage in Britain and including pieces by Judith Weir and Laura Bowler. Additional collaborations have involved composer Michael Finnissy, and programs regularly feature the trio transcriptions of folk songs by Haydn and Beethoven.
Albums
