The Cygnus Trio in Chichester

The Cygnus Trio, Chichester Cathedral, May 19

Tchaikovsky chamber music. Who knew. Ballets, big symphonies, the melodrama of the 1812 Overture, the Piano Concerto and one of the great violin concertos, yes, but he's not often, if ever, heard on these lunchtimes which are so often solo or small ensemble affairs. Well, the Cygnus Trio knew and the Trio in A minor, op. 50, is no small affair. Size isn't everything but neither is it to be measured by the number of musicians or decibels.

The Trio is in two lengthy movements, with the first, Pezzo elegiaco, in memoriam the pianst Nikolai Rubinstein, not textbook elegy perhaps with its grand gestures and energy. Javier Montañana's violin and Hannah Lweis's cello interacted lyrically before the theme was taken up by César Saura's piano. Some fitting solemnity was achieved in music that made much of relatively simple thematic material.

As could equally be said of the theme and variations of the second movement. There was no doubting this young trio's talent and the fine sound they made but some music can take its time to be convincing before thoroughly doing so.  César's opening exposition of the melody was almost devotional before the rapt violin and song-like cello did it their ways. It was quickly elaborated on with decorative piano and pizzicato strings, some tinkling top-end music box effects and Peter Ilyich taking on the challenges from Johann Sebastian and Ludwig to show how many different things he can do with the same tune.

It bounced around in dance and song and was in turn soulful, serene and spirited towards a presto climax with drama aforethought that had me thinking, not for the first time, that the end was due. He could have been hinting presciently towards Rachmaninov. But, no, in a consummately well-done final passage, the Trio made the Trio tread gently to its rest like a perturbèd spirit getting back to its grave before dawn.