Directory
Pirasti Trio
“The Pirasti Trio‚ who left such a favourable impression with their ASV anthology of Stanford’s Second Piano Trio and piano trios by Bax and Holst (9/95)‚ prove eloquent‚ unfailingly stylish advocates throughout…. Boasting truthful sound and pleasing balance, this exemplary coupling earns a firm recommendation”
The Pirasti Piano Trio played with an ease and naturalness and a sense of long-acquaintance that allowed this wonderful music to speak for itself. Jeffrey spoke and introduced each piece which nicely complemented the programme notes. This splendid concert was rounded off with a little bonbon.... We’d thoroughly recommend them to other music societies.
Trio - Piano Trio
Instrumentation
- Nicholas Miller - violin
- Alison Wells - 'cello
- Jeffrey Sharkey - piano
Repertoire
Schubert - Piano Trio in E flat
Dvorak - Piano Trio in F minor
Schumann - Piano Trio in D minor
Mel Bonis - Soir and Matin
Rebecca Clark - Piano Trio
Ravel - Piano Trio
Smetana - Piano Trio
Mendelssohn - C minor Trio
Haydn - Piano Trio in C Major
Haydn- Piano Trio in A major
Brahms - Piano Trios
Schoenfeld - Café Music
The Pirasti Trio collaborates regularly with other instrumentalists to include piano quartets and quintets by Mozart, Schumann and Brahms, Stanford and Fauré.
Biography
The Pirasti Trio formed in 1989 and performed throughout the UK, Europe and the USA until 2001. They had a particular interest in English music, giving the world première of the Gustav Holst Trio in the Wigmore Hall and the Dutch première of the Rebecca Clarke Trio. They made appearances at major festivals including Bath, Warwick, Dartington, Schleswig-Holstein and Orlando and were promoted as part of the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme. Their CDs of British chamber music for ASV were described as “absolutely incandescent” (The Strad) and “elegant, unfailingly stylish” (Gramophone). They were recommended by BBC Music Magazine, International Record Review and Fanfare and were selected recordings on BBC Radio 3’s “Building a Library”. Radio appearances included North German Radio, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Classic FM’s “Evening Concert” and a live broadcast on Radio 3’s “Musical Encounters” in association with the Bath International Festival.
In 2021, after they were all living back in the UK, they reunited as a trio, performing at The Yehudi Menuhin School as part of Encore Music Projects, where they teach every summer.
The Pirasti Trio collaborates regularly with other instrumentalists to include piano quartets and quintets by Mozart, Schumann and Brahms, Stanford and Fauré.