Selby & Friends, the acclaimed Australian chamber music series, will commence its 2010 Adelaide season with Poème 2.30pm Sunday 21 March, Elder Hall, North Terrace, Adelaide.

This concert will present some of the most passionate and atmospheric music from Liszt, Bloch, Arensky and Schubert performed by TRIOZ, the established piano trio in-residence at City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney.

Ms Selby, a leading concert pianist and entrepreneur has brought together experienced and expressive chamber musicians to create an atmosphere that is unique in chamber music performances.

Poème will take you on a journey into the depths of human expression from private anguish to public joy. The program’s title comes from the work by Franz Liszt transcribed for piano trio by another great composer and Liszt admirer Saint-Saens. The concert begins with Ernest Bloch’s Three Nocturnes for piano trio highlight’s the composer’s breadth of expression from impressionist tendencies to a gorgeous lullaby and finishing with motoric rhythms found in his early chamber music.

The third work Trio in D minor by Anton Arensky is said to be one of his finest works in which his passionate style captures the essence of chamber and salon pianism of the European Romantics, and shaped a new and more expressive piano trio style. The final work, the Piano Trio in B Flat major by Franz Schubert was composed in the final year of his life when Schubert was seriously ill with syphilis, and yet one is unaware of impending doom, only the miracle of melody.

“I am delighted to feature the virtuoso clarinettist Cathy McCorkill and Australian Opera star, soprano Taryn Feibig in this 2010 series. Together with my co-artists in TRIOZ, Emma-Jane Murphy (cello) and Niki Vasilakis (violin), these musicians enjoy an enviable international reputation and will certainly make the 2010 concerts some of the most memorable we have presented,” said Ms Selby.

“The true aim of the series is to welcome our audience as if into our living room. After all, the origins of chamber music were based in small social gatherings where friends came together to enjoy each other’s company, play a little music and share food and wine.”

Selby & Friends is Australia’s highly acclaimed chamber music series featuring both the virtuoso and collective talents of eminent Australian and international artists. Founded in 1988 by one of Australia’s most popular concert pianists, Kathryn Selby, the aim of the series is to create an intimate and informal atmosphere where music can be entertaining and enjoyed by as many people as possible. The ensemble featured in many Selby & Friends’ concerts is TRIOZ, the piano trio in -residence at City Recital Hall, Sydney. This group of talented artists include pianist, Kathryn Selby, violinist Niki Vasilakis and cellist Emma-Jane Murphy.

Tickets available from Selby & Friends (02) 9969 7039 or
www.selbyandfriends.com.au; at the door or from BASS: 131 246.