Papaioea Piano Trio

The Papaioea Trio of Palmerston North returns to the Globe Sunday Matinee series on September 24 with a programme focused on beginnings and endings.

Dmitri Shostakovich wrote his first trio in 1923 while he was still studying at the Petrograd Conservatory. This was the scene of its first performance at a students’ concert in December of the same year. While the piece is one of the most popular in the Trio repertoire it was not published in his lifetime, but was assembled from a number of manuscripts by one of his pupils. Given that Shostakovich was to experience the disapproval of the Russian government the work speaks to us today as a significant statement of both darkness and hope, with the added adrenalin provided by youth.

Franz Schubert began composing his piano trio in Bb major in 1827, the year before his death. Perhaps Schubert needed a lighter project to divert his attention from the illness and melancholy that filled his life in his last months for it is a lively, buoyant work, with unrivaled lyricism throughout. Robert Schumann said of it: “One glance at the work and the troubles of our human existence disappear and all the world is fresh and bright again.” Although it is now one of the most revered chamber works in the repertoire, it was never performed publicly during Schubert’s lifetime.

The concert finishes with Haydn’s Gipsy Rondo from his first Piano Trio dating from 1760. The piece is a concert favourite, and requires virtuosity from the piano, as well as the violin, while the cello is content with providing bass support.

Elizabeth Patchett began her full-time career as an orchestral musician with the Auckland Philharmonia and six years later in 1993 joined the N.Z.S.O second violin section. Elizabeth has toured and recorded as a member of the New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, and has recorded for Concert FM and toured for Chamber Music New Zealand as a member of the Nevine String Quartet. She travels weekly to Palmerston North to teach violin and viola to advanced students.

Robert Ibell was born in Dannevirke and brought up in Palmerston North. While training there as a school teacher he learned cello from Judith Hyatt in Wellington. Between 1986 and 1992 Robert lived and studied cello in London. From 1993 to 2019 Robert was a member of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He is now a cello and double bass teacher in Palmerston North, chamber music coach, adjudicator and freelance performer. Robert is a member of the Aroha String Trio, square piano/cello duo Hammers & Horsehair, contemporary music group Stroma, and indie/folk/rock band Milkthistle.

Guy Donaldson has for many years been a regular performer in the Manawatu, as well as being a teacher and music coach. He has accompanied a number of distinguished artists including Dame Malvina Major, Anna Leese, Olga Shanina and violinist Hannah Fang, and has been a concerto soloist with the Manawatu Sinfonia. In 2013 he conducted the Manawatu Sinfonia in a programme of concertos, including two concertos with former piano students in the solo piano roles. Guy was the music director of the Renaissance Singers from 1989 to 2018. He is the convenor of the Globe Sunday Matinee concert series, and is a frequent performer in its concerts.

The concert begins at 2.30pm, and admission is by donation, recommended from $5.