A terrific trio hits a harmonious high note

Intimacy is one of chamber music's great benefits for listeners, they believe.

Smaller venues and fewer performers than those of orchestral concerts allow for more personable dialogues between performers and audiences. It's interesting for listeners to experience the communication among onstage musicians and discover their chemistry, the group says.

The trio's distinctive cultural characters also add variety to its music.

The violinist is rooted in a very strong historic Russian tradition but has been exposed to Western influences since moving to the United Kingdom at age 8. The pianist from Shanghai has studied under a Russian teacher for many years and has been exposed to British and German influences.

"We are all the sum of a wide range of influences, combined with our native talents, predilections, tastes and personalities - and all of that defines our identity in music far more than our nationalities," says Elschenbroich, who adds that he comes from "two of the most diametrically opposed cello schools".

Wu Qian, who received early training before starting at the Yehudi Menuhin School at age 13, says: "Music is such a universal language that one can, of course, have different ideas in terms of interpreting a certain piece. But we had similar training at a young age, so there isn't much difference musically."

The Sikovetsky Trio has a running joke that Wu and Elschenbroich disagree on everything, and Sikovetsky is the mediator.

The three musicians only rehearse to prepare for concerts and tours, rather than regularly, out of principle.

"Unlike string quartets, trios usually don't need to work together all the time," Elschenbroich says.

"At the moment, we have to learn and relearn a lot of repertoire, and we want to prepare well for China. So, this week, we meet almost every day for four to six hours. But we haven't met for two months prior."

All three regularly perform solo and will continue to do so while expanding their repertoire as an ensemble.

They have often performed in the UK and Germany in recent years, while future engagements will take them to Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Bermuda.

chennan@chinadaily.com.cn