The artistry of the Beaux Arts Trio
The Beaux Arts Trio and Indiana University Distinguished Professor of Music Menahem Pressler represent a rare combination of longevity, consistency and quality. In honor of the group's 50th anniversary in 2005, WTIU produced a documentary to honor the trio and shed light on what it means to create music as a group.
That documentary, Beaux Arts at 50, will be televised on Monday (Oct. 23) at 10 p.m. EDT on most of the nation's PBS stations.
The Beaux Arts Trio performs a 50th anniversary concert in Auer Hall at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. From L-R: Daniel Hope, Menahem Pressler and Antonio Meneses.
"This program, originally suggested by (IU Jacobs School of Music) Dean Gwyn Richards, is the first WTIU program to be picked up for the national PBS schedule in more than two decades," said Perry Metz, executive director of IU Radio and Television Services. "We've produced many widely carried programs, but they have been distributed through other channels."
"Producer Susanne Schwibs has put together an elegant and warm performance program combined with substantive interviews with the principals," he added.
"Preserving milestones such as the 50th anniversary is important, if only to document the essential 'fact' of that longevity," said Steve Krahnke, executive producer. "But what is more important is to give a larger audience an opportunity to share in the rich artistry that has defined the trio in all its permutations over the years. Concert performances might reach thousands; television can reach hundreds of thousands."
The trio consists of British violinist Daniel Hope, cellist Antonio Meneses and pianist Menahem Pressler, who founded the trio in 1955. In addition to more than 50 recordings with the Beaux Arts Trio, Pressler has compiled more than 30 solo recordings.
In the documentary, producer Susanne Schwibs interviewed each member of the trio individually and as a group. The members' comments are woven in with the music of a historic 50th anniversary concert in Auer Hall at the IU Jacobs School of Music and provide enlightening insight into the creation of music individually and with a group.
"To me music is very much about communication -- with the audience, fellow musicians and even with the composer," said Schwibs. "I think this is especially true for chamber music, and one of the hallmarks of the Beaux Arts Trio is not only music making at the highest level, but a sense of unity and communication among the performers that is palpable. This was something that I hoped to capture: their extraordinary attunedness to each other and to the music. I really wanted to bring the viewers close up, almost place them 'inside' the trio so that they relate to the trio as human beings, rather than just observe them at a distance as superhuman performers -- as so often, music performance programs do."
Krahnke believes it is important for audiences to understand that, in some ways, music is both a historical artifact to be studied, but also an expression of new ideas.
"The trio performed the Beethoven trios as its first public concert 50 years ago -- they've performed them since -- yet they are still discovering new meaning in each movement. That is what I mean by studying -- the trio studies by playing, not by digging," he said. "On the other hand, each performance of the trio stands on its own; though we can preserve one performance by videotaping it, that performance is a unique expression, which is historically important in its own right. By documenting these performances, we provide additional material for future audiences and performances to mine for even better understanding of both Beethoven's, and the trio's, message.
"But, to be honest," he added, "the performances are simply gorgeous -- breathtaking even -- and it is a privilege to be able to hear and see them over and over again."
NOTES: Because individual television markets vary, and stations will be choosing to air the documentary on either their main or digital/HD channels, those hoping to view Beaux Arts at 50 are urged to contact their local PBS stations to confirm air dates and times.
A soon-to-be-released double-sided DVD from PBS Home Video will include the television program, the entire concert and additional material (including an archival performance). Those interested in purchasing the DVD can go to either of the following Web pages.
PBS store: http://www.shoppbs.org/searchHandler/index.jsp?searchId=18899798462&keywords=beaux arts at 50
IU Jacobs School of Music Marketplace: https://www.indiana.edu/~mrktpl/
