Beaux Arts at 50
The Beaux Arts Trio and Menahem Pressler represent a rare combination of longevity, consistency and quality. In honor of the group’s 50th anniversary in 2005, WTIU produced a documentary to honor the trio and shed light on what it means to create music as a group.
“Preserving milestones such as the 50th anniversary is important if only to document the essential ‘fact’ of that longevity,” said Steve Krahnke, executive producer. “But what is more important is to give a larger audience an opportunity to share in the rich artistry that has defined the trio in all its permutations over the years. Concert performances might reach thousands; television can reach hundreds of thousands.”
The trio consists of British violinist Daniel Hope, cellist Antonio Meneses and pianist and founder Menahem Pressler. Professor Pressler is well-known in the Indiana University community where he holds the position of Distinguished Professor of Music. He founded the Beaux Arts Trio in 1955. In addition to over 50 recordings with the Beaux Arts Trio, Pressler has compiled over 30 solo recordings.
In the documentary, producer Susanne Schwibs interviewed each member of the trio individually and as a group. Their comments are woven in with the music of their anniversary concert and provide enlightening insight on what is involved in creating music individually and with the group.
“I think it is important for audiences to understand that, in some ways, music is both a historical artifact to be studied, but also an expression of new ideas,” Krahnke said. “The trio performed the Beethoven trios as its first public concert 50 years ago—they've performed them since—yet they are still discovering new meaning in each movement. That is what I mean by studying—the trio studies by playing, not by digging. On the other hand, each performance of the trio stands on its own; though we can preserve one performance by videotaping it, that performance is a unique expression which is historically important in its own right. By documenting these performances, we provide additional material for future audiences and performances to mine for even better understanding of both Beethoven’s, and the trios, message.”
“But to be honest,” Krahnke said, “the performances are simply gorgeous—breathtaking even—and it is a privilege to be able to hear and see them over and over again,”.
Related Links
- Buy a copy of the program at Shop PBS
- The Beaux Arts Trio
- Indiana University Jacobs School of Music