The 19th: a room of her own | Neave Trio

Women are often only given a very particular space — if they’re given space at all. They’re forced to exist on the margins, in domestic roles, in tokenized spaces, within the narrow spectrum of what society deems acceptable. “a room of her own” examines how women’s voices have been historically underrepresented, walled off from the predominantly male narrative. The Neave Trio gives voice to women’s ongoing — and often silent — struggle for equality, from the suffrage movement to the present day.

Since forming in 2010, Neave Trio – violinist Anna Williams, cellist Mikhail Veselov, and pianist Eri Nakamura – has earned enormous praise for its engaging, cutting­edge performances. WQXR explains, “‘Neave’ is actually a Gaelic name meaning ‘bright’ and ‘radiant,’ both of which certainly apply to this trio’s music making.” The group’s 2019 album Her Voice, on Chandos Records, was named one of the best recordings of the year by both The New York Times and BBC Radio 3. The Boston Musical Intelligencer reports, “it is inconceivable that they will not soon be among the busiest chamber ensembles going,” and “their unanimity, communication, variety of touch, and expressive sensibility rate first tier.”

Neave has performed at many esteemed concert series and at festivals worldwide, including Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 92nd Street Y, Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Norfolk and Norwich Chamber Music Series (United Kingdom), and the Samoylov and Rimsky Korsakow Museums’ Chamber Music Series in St. Petersburg (Russia). The trio has held residency positions at Brown University, University of Virginia, San Diego State University as the first-ever Fisch/Axelrod Trio-in-Residence, and the Banff Centre (Canada), among many other institutions. Neave Trio was also in residence at the MIT School of Architecture and Design in collaboration with dancer/choreographer Richard Colton. In the fall of 2017, the Trio joined the faculty of the Longy School of Music of Bard College as Alumni Artists, Faculty Ensemble‑in‑Residence.

Neave Trio strives to champion new works by living composers and reach wider audiences through innovative concert presentations, regularly collaborating with artists of all mediums. These collaborations include D-Cell: an Exhibition & Durational Performance, conceived and directed by multi-disciplinary visual artist David Michalek; as well as performances with the Blythe Barton Dance Company; with dance collective BodySonnet; with projection designer Ryan Brady; in the interactive concert series “STEIN2.0,” with composer Amanuel Zarzowski; in Klee Musings by acclaimed American composer Augusta Read Thomas, which was premiered by Neave; in the premiere of Eric Nathan’s Missing Words V, sponsored by Coretet; in Leah Read’s Cloud Burst for piano trio and electronics; in Dale Trumbore’s Another Chance; and in a music video by filmmaker Amanda Alvarez Díaz of Astor Piazzolla’s “Otoño Porteño.”

Gramophone described Neave Trio’s latest album Her Voice as, “a splendid introduction to these three pioneering female composers,” and as, “sumptuously recorded … a taut and vivid interpretation.” The Guardian describes the three compositions by Amy Beach, Rebecca Clarke, and Louise Farrenc as, “distinctive and distinguished chamber works,” while The Strad writes of Beach’s Trio, “The dreamy cello melody of the opening Allegro – luxuriously played by Mikhail Veselov – blooms into tender interplay between the strings. Violinist Anna Williams echoes Veselov’s delicate touch, underpinned by eminently sensitive pianism from Eri Nakamura. It’s a finely etched and persuasive performance.”

Neave Trio’s other critically acclaimed recordings include Celebrating Piazzolla (Azica Records, 2018), which features mezzo-soprano Carla Jablonski; French Moments (Chandos Records, 2018); and its debut album, American Moments (Chandos Records, 2016). Celebrating Piazzolla captures the composer’s rich legacy through arrangements by one of Piazzolla’s long time colleagues, José Bragato and by a younger protégé, Leonardo Suárez Paz, as well as an original work by Paz, and was included on The Arts Fuse’s list of the Best Classical Recordings of 2018. French Moments includes the only known piano trios by Debussy, Fauré, and Roussel and was featured on WQXR’s list of “The Best New Recordings of 2018 (So Far).”

While the COVID-19 pandemic has shuttered concert halls around the world, the Neave Trio continues to find meaningful ways to perform safely. In April 2020, Anna Williams and Mikhail Veselov of the Neave Trio were filmed giving an emotional and heartfelt performance of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah in support of their neighbor – a nurse and new mother – and all essential workers during the coronavirus crisis. The video was shared by PBS’ American Portrait series and has over 1 million views. Neave has also performed virtual concerts for The Violin Channel’s “Living Room Live” series; the “Notes of Hope: Music for the Frontline” series, which provided a daily performance of thanks by leading Boston classical musicians for COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers at Boston medical centers; and for Longy School of Music of Bard College’s Virtual Benefit. Recent and upcoming livestream concerts include performances presented by the Asheville Chamber Music Series and the Auditorium Chamber Music Series at University of Idaho. Recent and upcoming outdoor, socially distanced concerts include performances at PS21 in Chatham, NY; the Walnut Hill School’s “Summer of Art, Six Feet Apart” festival; and Newport Music Festival.

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