THE Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall welcomed the Fidelio Trio on Wednesday night for an exciting programme of classical and contemporary works.

The unmistakable opening of Beethoven’s Piano Trio in D Major (Ghost) set the tone for an exhilarating concert. The first movement demands energy and characterful playing, and the Trio delivered this in abundance.

The pensive second movement, which prompted Beethoven’s former student Carl Czerny to nickname it the "Ghost", was eerie and expressive, with stark contrasts in dynamic and detail of phrasing forming a truly mesmerising performance. This charm was sustained throughout the final movement, which successfully built up momentum until the piece’s sudden but satisfying end.

Roger Marsh’s Cracks was written for the Trio, who premiered it in 2017. The atmospheric piece signalled a drastic change in repertoire, although the Trio’s charisma and mastery of their instruments ensured that there was no sense of inconsistency between the works. Cracks effectively evoked both calm and vibrant landscapes, interspersing chaos with tranquillity. Marsh played expertly to the strengths of the ensemble, exploring the varied sound worlds of the piano trio.

The Trio’s flawless communication really came to the fore in Schubert’s Piano Trio No. 1 as the intricate melodies in each voice overlapped and joined together seamlessly. The playful, chromatic motifs of the finale were a particular highlight. Schubert’s work is often regarded in terms of Beethoven’s influence, but the Trio’s excellent performance proved beyond doubt that it is a wonderful piece in its own right.

Review by Alice Masterson