Ner Shalom is honored to present this extraordinary, world-class event celebrating Beethoven’s 250th birthday with the highly esteemed, virtuosic Raphael Trio and Professor Lewis Lockwood. 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 with Professor Lockwood address followed by the Raphael Trio’s performance of Beethoven’s Allegretto in Bb Major and his Trio in Bb, “Archduke”.
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 and lesser-known works by the greats, the Raphael Trio maintains an active role in commissioning, performing and recording works written for them by contemporary composers.
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. Critic Joseph Kerman described him as "a leading musical scholar of the postwar generation, and the leading American authority on Beethoven."At 89, Professor Lockwood has been reducing his travel and workload, but has a special connection to Ner Shalom through board member and niece Amy Gray, whose invitation he gladly accepted.
The Raphael Trio also has a special connection to Congregation Ner Shalom through our stewardship of a Steinway baby grand piano entrusted to the congregation 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 this piano to safety and Susan grew up with it.
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