Trio Volant & piano
[Review extract]
12th
January
2023.
Grimsby
Concert
Society
presented
the
uncommon
and
refreshing
combination
of
Oboe,
Clarinet
and
Bassoon,
synergised
by
a
superb
piano
accompaniment.
Appearing
as
Trio
Volant
plus
Piano,
were
four
absolute
musicians:
the
“flying
threesome”
-
Beatrice
Hubble
(Bea),
oboe;
Tom
Evans,
clarinet;
Alice
Braithwaite,
bassoon;
and
the
inspiring
piano
of
Leanne
Cody.
Exuding
enthusiasm,
they
engaged
the
audience
both
directly,
and
through
their
flawless,
exciting
performances
-
superb
ensemble,
musical,
fluid,
dynamic
and energising.
With
great
depth
of
sound,
each
wind
player
produced
rich,
full
and
clear
sounds
on
their
reed
instruments:
the
seductive
Clarinet;
the
slightly
nasal
Oboe;
the
lush
deep
soul
seeking
notes
of
the
Bassoon.
The
wonderful
Steinway,
at
Grimsby
Town
Hall,
was
a
loom
for
Leanne
to
weave
magic,
and
together
they
created
a
wonderful
acoustic-tapestry – inspiring and uplifting.
Glinka’s
reflective
Trio
Pathétique,
bassoon,
clarinet
and
piano,
contained
some
quite
profound
moments,
beautifully
expressed
by
Tom
and
Alice.
This
was
especially
so
in
the
slow
section:
a
plaintiff
bassoon
aria
expressed
deeply
melancholic
feelings,
accepting
of
fate,
to
be
reflected
by
a
lamenting
clarinet.
Yet
all
of
this
was
brushed aside in a final allegro con spirito - a wonderful work from Glinka.
The
potentials
of
oboe
and
bassoon
were
explored
and
exquisitely
blended
in
Madeleine
Dring’s
Trio
for
oboe,
bassoon
and
piano.
The
piano
shaped
the
mood,
developed
by
oboe
and
bassoon
and
hinting
at
the
exotic
and
esoteric
-
traversing
a
range
of
ideas
and
influences.
In
the
intriguing
impressionistic
second
movement,
Dialogues,
Leanne
gently
supported
the
harmonisation
of
oboe
and
bassoon,
creating
a
silky
backdrop
for
another
outstanding
conversation
between
Bea
and
Alice.
An
upbeat
third
movement concluded the work.
The
final
work
of
this
thoroughly
enjoyable
concert
was
three
movements
from
Schmitt’s
Tour
D’anches
–
featuring
the
quartet
in
a
creative
and
humorous
explosion
of
music.
A
cheeky
opening
featured
all
three
reed
instruments
in
a
musical
tag.
A
calm
second
movement
was
underpinned
by
Leanne’s
piano;
the
sounds
of
the
bassoon
and
clarinet
provided
rich
and
studied
harmonies
in
this
alluring
section.
The
work
concluded
with
a
short
and
chirpy
finale
-
leaving
the
audience
smiling,
with
that
warm
inner
glow
from a wonderful concert. IM