Before officially founding Trio Zimbalist, the three musicians gave a spectacular performance at the Arts Arena in 2021. We are delighted to welcome them back now that they have formally joined their musical forces in this superb trio.
TRIO ZIMBALIST
Trio Zimbalist has garnered critical acclaim for its “precision and feverish intensity” (Greece’s EfSyn),its “liveliness and vigor of playing,” and performances that are “pure enjoyment!” (Athinorama) at the Nights of Classical Music at the Gennadius Library Festival in Athens, where it served as ensemble in residence during a Fall 2021 tour of Greece, Germany, and France. Members of the trio—violinist Josef Špaček, cellist Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin, and pianist George Xiaoyuan Fu—are all distinguished alumni of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. In demand across Europe and the U.S. as soloists, chamber musicians, and recitalists, they form an inimitable ensemble with repertoire spanning Romantic masterworks to today’s most lauded composers. The trio takes its name from famed violin virtuoso Efrem Zimbalist, a towering presence at the Curtis Institute of Music as faculty and director for a combined 40 years, and carries on his storied legacy through its commitment to artistic excellence, drawing upon the lineage of previous world-class ensembles formed at Curtis. Its members have studied with faculty representing the Guarneri Quartet, the Beaux Arts Trio, and the Chicago Chamber Musicians and have made regular appearances at the La Jolla Music Society, ChamberFest Cleveland, Marlboro, and Moritzburg music festivals. Active composers, adventurous and multidisciplinary collaborators, they are passionate advocates for the impact of music on communities across the globe.
Praised for his remarkable range of color and virtuosity, Czech violinist Josef Špaček has emerged as one of the leading violinists of his generation. He is a sought-after soloist, performing regularly with the most distinguished orchestras around the world, including the Orchestre de Paris, Philadelphia Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra; the Czech, Helsinki, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Rotterdam philharmonic orchestras; and the Tokyo and Shanghai symphony orchestras, among others. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Špaček has collaborated with Gil Shaham, Yuja Wang, James Ehnes, Noah Bendix-Balgley, and Kian Soltani. He previously served as concertmaster and associate artist of the Czech Philharmonic, the youngest in its history. Mr. Špaček performs on the ca. 1732 “LeBrun; Bouthillard”
Guarneri del Gesù violin.
Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, cellist Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin gained international recognition as a top prizewinner at the prestigious International Paulo Cello Competition in Finland. In 2016 he made his U.S. solo debut with the Kansas City Symphony, under the direction of Robert Spano. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tapiola Sinfonietta, the Israel Camerata, NEC Philharmonia, the Athens, Thessaloniki State, and Lahti symphony orchestras. An ardent chamber musician, Mr. Petrin has participated in the Marlboro Music Festival, Chamberfest Cleveland, Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, Caramoor’s Evnin Rising Stars, and the Dimitria Festival, among other programs.
Chinese-American pianist George Xiaoyuan Fu is establishing an international reputation as a captivating performer with distinctive intelligence and sensitivity. Mr. Fu has performed as a piano soloist with orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, and the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra. He has appeared at international venues such as the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, and Teatro Municipal in Santiago, while his live performances and interviews have been featured on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune and National Public Radio’s Performance Today, Mr. Fu is an active composer and performer of contemporary music, having collaborated with composers Krzysztof Penderecki, Harrison Birtwistle, George Lewis, Unsuk Chin, Tansy Davies, Phil Cashian, Matthew Aucoin, and Freya Waley-Cohen.
MUSICAL PROGRAM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Piano Trio No. 39 in G major, Hob. XV:25 (1795)
I. Andante
II. Poco Adagio. Cantabile
III.Rondo all’Ongarese. Presto
Nikos Skalkottas (1904-1949)
Eight Variations on a Greek Folk Tune for Piano Trio (1938)
Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904)
Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90, B. 166 (“Dumky”) (1891)
I. Lento maestoso – Allegro quasi doppio movimento
II. Poco Adagio – Vivace non troppo
III.Andante – Vivace non troppo
IV. Andante moderato – Allegretto scherzando – Meno mosso
V. Allegro
VI. Lento maestoso