51. Crespo Series

This is Trio Gaspard’s first appearance at the Festival although their cellist, Vashti Hunter, took part in our virtual Festival in ’21. The Trio has taken on the substantial and bewildering task of recording all of Haydn’s keyboard trios, bewildering as it is far from clear to the layman how many authentic trios there are. Although the experts are all agreed on the glorious quality of Haydn’s trios they remain amongst his least-known masterpieces. As part of the recording venture, the Trio commissioned a trio from the British composer Sally Beamish as a contemporary reflection of the Haydn. This performance will be its World Premiere. Smetana wrote his moving and beautiful Piano Trio in memory of his two young daughters, who both died in childhood.