The Raphael Trio will perform its third annual classical music concert at Congregation Ner Shalom as a tribute to Beethoven’s 250th birthday on March 28, 2020. Special guest Lewis Lockwood, internationally acknowledged Beethoven scholar, will speak about the composer and the specific music the Trio will perform. The program will begin at 7:30PM.
The program will begin with Mr. Lockwood’s address. Immediately following Lewis’s presentation, the Trio will play Beethoven’s Allegretto in Bb Major, WoO 39 and his Trio in Bb, Op 97, “Archduke”.
Congregation President Suzanne Shanbaum said, “Ner Shalom is honored to present this extraordinary, world-class event celebrating Beethoven’s 250th birthday with Professor Lockwood and the highly esteemed, virtuosic Raphael Trio.”
Cosponsors for the event are Congregation Beth Ami, Congregation Shomrei Torah, Sonoma State University Music Department, and the Redwood Arts Council.
Lewis Lockwood is an American musicologist whose main fields are the music of the Italian Renaissance and the life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven.[1] Joseph Kerman described him as "a leading musical scholar of the postwar generation, and the leading American authority on Beethoven". At 89, Lewis has been reducing his travel and work load, but like the trio, has a special connection to Ner Shalom through board member and niece Amy Gray, whose invitation he gladly accepted.
The Raphael Trio’s special connection to Congregation Ner Shalom is Ner Shalom’s stewardship of a Steinway baby grand piano entrusted to it by David Salm, brother of the Raphael Trio’s cellist and founder, Susan Salm. The instrument belonged to their mother Erna, a concert pianist in Germany. When the Nazis came to power, Erna Salm shipped her pianos safety and Susan grew up with it.
The Raphael Trio has been performing live, as well as making NPR appearances, for over 40 years. Trio members are Naoko Tanaka, violin; Susan Salm, cello;, and Daniel Epstein, piano. They have been presented regularly in leading concert halls of the U.S. and Europe and have released several CDs.
In addition to their commitment to presenting the standard repertoire as well as the lesser-known works by the great composers, the Raphael Trio maintains an active role in commissioning, performing and recording works written for them by contemporary composers.
Praise for the Raphael Trio:
“The performances, eager, fervent and deeply committed, were well-matched to the ardor of the trios.” The New York Times
“These gifted musicians play with an almost palpable intensity. They launched into a detailed and emotionally gripping performance that allowed all to triumph both individually and collectively.” The Washington Post
“I admired the richness of ensemble sonority from players in moments of greatest tension and the expressive style of their performance throughout each work.” The London Times
Tickets are $30 General Admission, $45 VIP, and $10 Student, and are available at shalomevents.org and (707) 664-8622.
Ner Shalom is scent-free and wheelchair accessible.