Aquinas Piano Trio and Rachel Roberts, viola
Farrington Hall, Shaftesbury
Friday 11 December • 5PM
Camille Saint-Saëns: Piano Quartet No 1
Lili Boulanger: D’un matin de printemps (for violin, cello and piano)
Amy Beach: Piano Trio
Johannes Brahms: Piano Quartet No 1
RUTH ROGERS • Violin
RACHEL ROBERTS • Viola
KATHERINE JENKINSON • Cello
MARTIN COUSIN • Piano
PROGRAMME NOTES
Saint-Saëns’ Piano Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 41, composed in 1875, combines classical clarity with Romantic elegance and virtuosity. Written at the height of the composer’s creative powers, the work highlights his gift for graceful melody, refined textures and brilliant instrumental writing. The four movements move between lyricism, sparkling energy and expressive warmth, with the piano and strings engaging in lively and balanced dialogue throughout.
Composed in 1917–18, D’un matin de printemps (“Of a Spring Morning”) is one of Lili Boulanger’s final works and captures a vivid sense of freshness, movement and light. Originally written in several versions, including for piano trio, the piece combines delicate colours with energetic rhythms and fluid, impressionistic harmonies. Despite its brevity, the music conveys both youthful vitality and remarkable emotional subtlety, offering a radiant glimpse into Boulanger’s distinctive musical voice.
Composed in 1938, Amy Beach’s Piano Trio, Op. 150 is one of her final chamber works and reflects the expressive richness of late Romanticism. Written with warmth and lyrical intensity, the trio combines sweeping melodies with moments of intimacy and emotional depth. Beach’s sensitive writing allows each instrument to shine while creating a richly woven ensemble texture, resulting in a work that is both elegant and deeply personal.
Composed over many years and completed in 1861, Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25 blends youthful intensity with mature craftsmanship. Rich in emotional contrast, the work moves from passionate lyricism to introspective reflection and vigorous energy. Its famous final movement, inspired by Hungarian dance rhythms, brings the quartet to an exhilarating close, showcasing Brahms’ gift for combining expressive depth with powerful momentum.
PERFORMERS
AQUINAS PIANO TRIO
Described by Gramophone as, ‘spot-on in interpretative instinct’, the Aquinas Piano Trio has established itself as one of Britain’s most sought-after chamber groups. Following their Wigmore Hall debut in December 2015, Musical Opinion commented, ‘This sold out concert hall was in awe, ecstatic with joy at the final cadence.’ Their list of recordings includes the Saint-Saens Trios, released on Guild in 2015, and their CD of Mendelssohn Trios was Strad Magazine’s Choice of the Month in May 2015: ‘The Aquinas Trio rejoices in these cherishable scores with a symphonic sweep and an insatiable forward momentum … This is an enormously impressive coupling.’
The Aquinas Trio released 3 discs of Haydn trios on Naxos between 2022-23, all to universal acclaim, with the Strad remarking ‘The Aquinas Trio brings flawless ensemble and a lively intelligence to these relatively neglected pre-1770 works’ and Fanfare Magazine stating ‘I have never enjoyed Haydn trios as much as in these performances. Aquinas’s easy-going spirit is captivating.’
The trio’s past engagements include a Schumann concert series at Kings Place, London, as well as performances at the Little Missenden Festival, the Chipping Campden International Music Festival, the Menton Festival in France and the Kirker Chopin Festival in Mallorca.
Their continuing support of contemporary music saw premieres of new works by Thomas Hyde and Rob Keeley during the 2016/17 season, with a Naxos CD release of Rob Keeley’s Piano Trio no.2 in 2019, Lawrie Rose’s piano trio for Stone Records in 2022, alongside Smetana and Rachmaninov trios and Michael Stimpson’s complete works for piano trio in 2023.
Highlights of last season included a return to Chipping Campden Music Festival and a recital for Sherborne Abbey Festival. They performed a series of 5 recitals between 2022-26 at Wigmore Hall.
RACHEL ROBERTS • Viola
Rachel is one of Europe’s leading violists, performing internationally as a soloist and chamber musician in venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Toppan Hall in Japan, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the Musikverein Vienna, the Philharmonie in Berlin and London’s Wigmore Hall.
Prizes and accolades for her chamber music recordings including three Diapason d’Or awards (2009, 2021 and 2023), BBC Chamber Choice, and Fonoforum CD of the Month for Brahms Viola Sonatas with Lars Vogt. She is a regular guest at international chamber music festivals such as Salzburg Festival, Wiener Festwochen, Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg, Heimbach “Spannungen” and Mecklenburg Vorpommern.
She has recorded chamber music for Hyperion, Champs Hill Records, Signum Classics, cAVI, Deutsche Rundfunk, Alpha Classics, Orchid Classics and BIS Records. In January 2025 she recorded Edward Gregson’s Viola Concerto ‘Three Goddesses’ with the BBC Philharmonic, which was released by Chandos Records in 2025.
Rachel is Professor of Viola at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.