Phoenix Piano Trio - The Leipzig Circle (2020)

The Phoenix Piano Trio's latest album is the first in a series that will explore the extraordinary musical melting pot of Leipzig from the 1840s. This first disc begins with Schumanns exuberant Trio in F major and concludes with Mendelssohns turbulent, virtuosic Trio in C minor. Between these two works, we hear the five Novelletten of the Danish composer Niels Gade. A close friend of Mendelssohn and particularly Robert Schumann, Gades musical language shows a strong Germanic influence while retaining a clear Nordic voice, exemplified in these five pieces that are a rich addition to the trio repertoire. The Phoenix Piano Trio is established as one of todays leading ensembles, bringing together three renowned players and praised for performances with a musical narrative of tremendous, involving depth (Strings Magazine USA) and unbuttoned exuberance (Financial Times). Violinist Jonathan Stone is an internationally acclaimed chamber musician, soloist and concertmaster, and was a member of the Doric String Quartet for 13 years. Christian Elliott is Principal Cellist of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and a member of the Zehetmair Quartet. Artistic Director of the Oxford Lieder Festival, Sholto Kynoch is a sought-after pianist specialising in chamber music and song.