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Eugeniu Doga in company with famed composers
Calvary Concerts in Summit open season with a winner
Sunday, September 18, 2005
By A. Michael Noll
Manhattan Piano Trio. Milana Bahl (piano), Dmitry Lukin (violin), Dmitry Kouzov (cello). Mozart: Piano Trio in C, K. 548; Fauré: Berceuse, Op. 16; Tchaikovsky: Valse-Scherzo; Rachmaninoff: Etudes-tableaux, Op. 39; Debussy: Cello Sonata; Piazzolla: Oblivion; Doga: The Waltz; Shostakovich: Trio in C-minor. Calvary Episcopal Church, Summit.
The Manhattan Piano Trio is a new ensemble of young musicians based in New York City. They were presented to us by the Calvary Chorale in Summit, as the first concert in this year's season at the church.
In her concert remarks to the audience, pianist Milana Bahl stated that the program would be a "musical journey around the world." One missing nation - the United States - was added in the form of an encore with a work by Joplin.
The Trio is a very fine group of musicians, all from the old Russia, who met at Juilliard. It is exciting to witness the formation and evolution of a new group of young musicians, particularly when the quality of performance clearly indicates much success ahead. Pianist Milana Bahl played the Mozart K. 548 Trio with a delightful lightness of touch, yet was firmly strong in her Rachmaninoff solo. Violinist Dmitry Lukin reached the deep sonorities of the Fauré Berceuse. Cellist Dmitry Kouzov played the late Debussy sonata with strongly melodic virtuosity.
In some ways, the concert was a showcase for the group as they attempt to carve out a musical niche for themselves based on their unique skills and also audience response. Although all of the musical journey was extremely well played, it was in the last two pieces that the ensemble really soared with a mature depth of emotion. Perhaps it was because the Russian and Moldovian musicians have it in their blood, but they clearly probed and related to the music of their heritage. Eugeniu Doga is a Moldovian composer, and his The Waltz was arranged by him especially for the Manhattan Piano Trio. I would like to hear more by this composer, who was new to me.
The too rarely heard Shostakovich Piano Trio no. 1 was yet another of his creative masterpieces that made him one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century. Why is it so overshadowed in programming by the second trio? I can't think why.
The concert started exactly at 3 PM, without the five or ten minute delay that seems to have become so characteristic of most concerts in New Jersey. We hope that this becomes a trend for promptness with other groups too.