The Chihara Trio, formed in 2009 and comprised of Penn State School of Music faculty members Anthony J. Costa on clarinet, violist Timothy Deighton and pianist Enrico Elisi, performed a diverse array of works that were sometimes interrelated in subtle, yet special ways. The clarinet/viola/piano trio repertoire isn’t often heard, so the forming of this ensemble was a great idea. The trio’s inaugural season has included performances throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland, and they made their New York debut with this concert.
The highlight of this program—as I expected—was Mozart’s inspired Trio in E-flat from 1786. Not only is it one of Mozart’s most beautiful works, it was given a splendid performance by the Chihara Trio. Deighton’s technical aplomb and precision during the notoriously tricky Menuetto movement were very impressive.
The group takes its name from Paul Chihara, whose new work Images was also featured on the program. This work is light-hearted and fun—pure and simple. The joy comes from anxiously awaiting musical quotes, which runs the gamut from Brahms to Schoenberg to Ellington. The work should be performed often. The trio made it clear why they dedicated their name to this composer, as they played every note with affection and devotion.
Schumann’s Fairy Tales, Op. 132, composed just three years prior to the composer’s untimely death in an insane asylum, is an uneven work, and the trio’s phrasing and dynamics needed more forward movement and exaggeration to pull off some of the awkward transitions. The last movement, for example, felt a bit sluggish.
The ensemble also performed Ad infinitum, composed by Kye Ryung Park. The notes C, D and E, which are used often and in a myriad of ways, are derived from the first letters of the trio members’ last names. So this was evidently an evening sponsored by the mutual admiration society; Park’s aforementioned subtle dedication to members of the trio, the trio dedicating their name to Chihara, and Chihara himself paying homage to a long list of influential composers.
