How much could a Chinese, a Ukrainian and a Romanian have in common?! We would be tempted to say at first: not very much. However, the members of Karma Trio - violinist Sebastian Tegzeşiu, cellist Mi Zhou and pianist Valentin Valentiyev - might disagree with us, bringing up as arguments the very elements which tie them together: the love of music and the joy of performing.

Contrast - a defining word for the evening's programme

On October 25^th, we had the opportunity to listen to their recital in the Small Concert Hall at the Athenaeum, as part of the Tuesday Night Season concerts. The trio, made up of graduates of The City of Basel Music Academy, offered a programme defined by contrast. The first work they presented was Frank Martin's Trio sur des mélodies populaires irlandaises, which brought sonorities specific to the British area. On the other side of Europe, but also of the repertoire, there was Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Trio in A minor, Op. 50, a genuine emotional whirlwind, a specific feature of Romantic music.

I should mention that there were a few moments of incertitude, when the sound did not seem to be very obedient, but the artists managed to keep a tight hold of it with professionalism and give it to the audience, who, although not numerous, was very energetic - perhaps too energetic at certain times…

In other words, the KarmaTriomanaged to shape an agreeable Tuesday evening.