Having given memorable concerts in the past for the Richmond Concert Society we welcome the trio back to open our 2008-9 Season.

The trio, formed in 1997, have gained a reputation for music-making of the highest standard. One of their earliest successes was winning the 1st Prize in the Melbourne International Competition. Since then they have appeared at many of the leading festivals in this country and abroad, and at major venues in New York, Salzburg, Brussels, Athens, Stockholm, Baden-Baden and Cologne.

Invited to become BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists in 2000, the Trio has broadcast extensively, including concerts live from the Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall, City of London, Cheltenham and Edinburgh International Festivals.

The question is often asked: Why is the trio called “Kungsbacka”? They gave their first performance in the town in Sweden with this name. They have now established an annual festival there which is in its seventh year.

Their programme on the 23rd September includes a fine Beethoven piano trio from his middle period and the delightful second piano trio of Saint-Saëns, which will be the first time this work has been programmed at the RCS. The programme also includes a short work which is gaining popularity in piano trio circles: the Elègie by the son-in-law of Dvořák, Joseph Suk.

On a more personal note Malin, the trio’s violinist, some time ago married the pianist, Simon Crawford-Phillips. She will appear again towards the end of our season with the Nash Ensemble.