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"An enthusiastic audience at the Athenaeum last Saturday evening were vigorously alerted by the first few crisp chords of Haydn's Piano Trio in C major from The Erato Piano Trio, establishing the fact that here was a chamber group of musicians to be reckoned with: the timing was tense, the rhythms were absolutely firm and the melodic outlines clearly and lyrically established and the air of purpose was palpable. " Wiltshire Times, March 2010
The Arensky work that opened the programme enabled them immediately to display a rich palette of colours, and a considerable dynamic range. The second movement, a scherzo-cum waltz, was despatched with wit and aplomb, being followed by a deeply felt slow movement. The next item, the youthful first trio by Shostakovitch, dedicated to his first love, showed great intensity and passion, which was fully realised by the performers. The second half brought the Tchaikovsky trio, one of the most considerable works in the repertoire, which often oversteps the bounds of he genre, but contains some of the composer’s most beguiling invention. This received a performance of great power and authority, leaving performers and audience alike exhausted but satisfied by their joint journey. Brian Midgley, Stratford Herald, February 2011
"In the opening movement Julia Morneweg played the long, lyrical first theme with plenty of feeling [...] The long andantino was studded with beautiful moments, especially towards its close, the shot-silk textures with their ambiguities of self-reflection and memory and their unexpected harmonic resolutions were well realized [...] consistently impressive in the more outward-facing music of the closing allegro, beginning as it did with a good sense of drama (or at least as near to the dramatic as this subtlest of works ever comes).
Ravel’s trio is a more openly extrovert work, less full of enigmas than that of Faure and the Erato Trio – formed only in 2005 at the Royal College of Music in London – treated the audience to an impressive reading of it. The opening movement (marked modere) danced persuasively, the music revolving around Ravel’s pedal-points with commendable clarity. The Basque inflections of the opening theme were painted with a light touch and the second theme had a pleasing suavity to it. The second movement, the Pantoum, got sprightly treatment, the whole both engaged and engaging. The chorale-like melody in F major was played with particular beauty, the alternations of thematic materials handled with a clear sense of form and purpose. In the third movement, John Paul Elkins’ initial statement of the theme in the lower register of the piano created a feeling of spaciousness which was sustained throughout, as Ravel constantly changes the patterns of duet and trio. There was an edge of melancholy to the reading, but any temptation to wallow in this was avoided, and there was real beauty in the movement’s close, as the textual density was reduced and the movement sank back into silence – a silence immediately succeeded by the vivacity of Ravel’s ‘Final’. Here the Erato Trio were particularly satisfying, their precision of ensemble and their unity of purpose particularly striking; the considerable technical demands of the music left them altogether unfazed and the alternations between 5/4 and 7/4 time were integrated into a unified approach to the larger shape of the movement; without inappropriate inflation of effect, the decidedly orchestral nature of Ravel’s writing in this last movement was given powerful expression." MusicWeb International, Cardiff National Gallery, March 2010
"There was an above average audience for the return of this accomplished young trio who won plaudits in the romantic repertoire of their first Woking concert in November 2008. It is a delight to report that they play the classical works with sparkling skill and commitment. The opening Haydn trio received a full-blooded performance appropriate to its 1790s composition, with details of wit and grace picked out for our enjoyment. The Andante was given surprising depth, and the chase was spirited in the scintillating finale.
The performance of Schubert's E flat Major trio was quite overwhelming. The slow movement, ominous and profound, is one of the great pieces of chamber music. The Erato players were beautifully co-ordinated in their delivery here. The playing in the remaining movements had many felicities and the balancing of the parts was highly pleasing and harmonious.
Overall, pianist John Paul Ekins delivered accomplished, often shimmering, playing throughout, and the strings took their opportunities to please with some brilliant technique and well-tuned work. Mastery of classical period performance is theirs, and I hope we shall see them again in the future." David Winsor, Woking Concert Society
"....musicisti giovanissimi - ma bravissimi..." Cronaca di Cagliari - L'Unione Sarda, December 2008
"In line with the Society’s policy of encouraging young musicians embarking on their musical careers to play at the Society’s meetings, its Chairman, Barbara O’Connor, scored a major success by engaging the Erato Piano Trio. This ensemble played works by Mozart, Suk, Bridge and Rachmaninov. But it was in the Mendelssohn Barholdy Piano Trio in D Minor that the players really excelled themselves and delighted their audience. Ilya Movchan - violin and Julia Morneweg - cello gave excellent and sensitive performances but it was the brilliant and lively piano playing of John Paul Ekins, which gave the essential background to their wonderful music." Theydon Bois Music Society Review, June 2007 www.theydon.org
[.. ]The Shostakovich was unusually mature and gripping for such a young group, and showed wonderful potential. Individual parts were performed with soloistic virtuosity and control, the balance showed intelligence and insight.
RCM Recital Review by Nigel Clayton, June 2008,
We want to express our sincere appreciation for the outstanding job you did. We greatly appreciated you talent and professionalism! Thank you!
Organizer's feedback to Erato Piano Trio's performance at the Ezer Mizion Charity Gala London. June 2008
“….outstanding concert given by the Erato Piano Trio…” CwpanAur Cardiff, January 2009
[...] highly intelligent, well balanced playing....affectionate phrasing charmingly shaped, touching harmonic moments beautifully realized.
RCM Recital Review by Gordon Fergus-Thompson, June 2009
"...at the start of what I feel sure will be an interesting and successful career." Professor John Barstow MBE
"I believe that their instrumental skills and their work as a group promise a very exciting future." Professor Leonid Gorokhov
„Excellent individual technical accomplishment and extremely homogenous musical delivery…“ Professor Nigel Clayton
The Arensky work that opened the programme enabled them immediately to display a rich palette of colours, and a considerable dynamic range. The second movement, a scherzo-cum waltz, was despatched with wit and aplomb, being followed by a deeply felt slow movement. The next item, the youthful first trio by Shostakovitch, dedicated to his first love, showed great intensity and passion, which was fully realised by the performers. The second half brought the Tchaikovsky trio, one of the most considerable works in the repertoire, which often oversteps the bounds of he genre, but contains some of the composer’s most beguiling invention. This received a performance of great power and authority, leaving performers and audience alike exhausted but satisfied by their joint journey. Brian Midgley, Stratford Herald, February 2011
"In the opening movement Julia Morneweg played the long, lyrical first theme with plenty of feeling [...] The long andantino was studded with beautiful moments, especially towards its close, the shot-silk textures with their ambiguities of self-reflection and memory and their unexpected harmonic resolutions were well realized [...] consistently impressive in the more outward-facing music of the closing allegro, beginning as it did with a good sense of drama (or at least as near to the dramatic as this subtlest of works ever comes).
Ravel’s trio is a more openly extrovert work, less full of enigmas than that of Faure and the Erato Trio – formed only in 2005 at the Royal College of Music in London – treated the audience to an impressive reading of it. The opening movement (marked modere) danced persuasively, the music revolving around Ravel’s pedal-points with commendable clarity. The Basque inflections of the opening theme were painted with a light touch and the second theme had a pleasing suavity to it. The second movement, the Pantoum, got sprightly treatment, the whole both engaged and engaging. The chorale-like melody in F major was played with particular beauty, the alternations of thematic materials handled with a clear sense of form and purpose. In the third movement, John Paul Elkins’ initial statement of the theme in the lower register of the piano created a feeling of spaciousness which was sustained throughout, as Ravel constantly changes the patterns of duet and trio. There was an edge of melancholy to the reading, but any temptation to wallow in this was avoided, and there was real beauty in the movement’s close, as the textual density was reduced and the movement sank back into silence – a silence immediately succeeded by the vivacity of Ravel’s ‘Final’. Here the Erato Trio were particularly satisfying, their precision of ensemble and their unity of purpose particularly striking; the considerable technical demands of the music left them altogether unfazed and the alternations between 5/4 and 7/4 time were integrated into a unified approach to the larger shape of the movement; without inappropriate inflation of effect, the decidedly orchestral nature of Ravel’s writing in this last movement was given powerful expression." MusicWeb International, Cardiff National Gallery, March 2010
"There was an above average audience for the return of this accomplished young trio who won plaudits in the romantic repertoire of their first Woking concert in November 2008. It is a delight to report that they play the classical works with sparkling skill and commitment. The opening Haydn trio received a full-blooded performance appropriate to its 1790s composition, with details of wit and grace picked out for our enjoyment. The Andante was given surprising depth, and the chase was spirited in the scintillating finale.
The performance of Schubert's E flat Major trio was quite overwhelming. The slow movement, ominous and profound, is one of the great pieces of chamber music. The Erato players were beautifully co-ordinated in their delivery here. The playing in the remaining movements had many felicities and the balancing of the parts was highly pleasing and harmonious.
Overall, pianist John Paul Ekins delivered accomplished, often shimmering, playing throughout, and the strings took their opportunities to please with some brilliant technique and well-tuned work. Mastery of classical period performance is theirs, and I hope we shall see them again in the future." David Winsor, Woking Concert Society
"....musicisti giovanissimi - ma bravissimi..." Cronaca di Cagliari - L'Unione Sarda, December 2008
"In line with the Society’s policy of encouraging young musicians embarking on their musical careers to play at the Society’s meetings, its Chairman, Barbara O’Connor, scored a major success by engaging the Erato Piano Trio. This ensemble played works by Mozart, Suk, Bridge and Rachmaninov. But it was in the Mendelssohn Barholdy Piano Trio in D Minor that the players really excelled themselves and delighted their audience. Ilya Movchan - violin and Julia Morneweg - cello gave excellent and sensitive performances but it was the brilliant and lively piano playing of John Paul Ekins, which gave the essential background to their wonderful music." Theydon Bois Music Society Review, June 2007 www.theydon.org
[.. ]The Shostakovich was unusually mature and gripping for such a young group, and showed wonderful potential. Individual parts were performed with soloistic virtuosity and control, the balance showed intelligence and insight.
RCM Recital Review by Nigel Clayton, June 2008,
We want to express our sincere appreciation for the outstanding job you did. We greatly appreciated you talent and professionalism! Thank you!
Organizer's feedback to Erato Piano Trio's performance at the Ezer Mizion Charity Gala London. June 2008
“….outstanding concert given by the Erato Piano Trio…” CwpanAur Cardiff, January 2009
[...] highly intelligent, well balanced playing....affectionate phrasing charmingly shaped, touching harmonic moments beautifully realized.
RCM Recital Review by Gordon Fergus-Thompson, June 2009
"...at the start of what I feel sure will be an interesting and successful career." Professor John Barstow MBE
"I believe that their instrumental skills and their work as a group promise a very exciting future." Professor Leonid Gorokhov
„Excellent individual technical accomplishment and extremely homogenous musical delivery…“ Professor Nigel Clayton