Chamber music season wraps up with fantastic duo

Just as spring is revving up, the St. Albert Chamber Music Recital series is winding down.

For its fifth and final concert of the season, Dr. Patricia Tao on piano and violinist Yue Deng, a new arrival from China join forces on Saturday, May 10 at Don’s Piano Showroom.

Independently praised by reviewers, these two virtuosic musicians bring a high polish to their phenomenal program – one that blends Beethoven and Grieg with more contemporary jazz and rag selections.

“In chamber music, you can get together like a friend and read music and make it casual. Or you can do it in depth. We want to do it in depth. We’re quite serious about it. It takes a while to develop a working relationship, but we’re on track in playing as one,” says Tao.

Tao is currently an associate professor of music at the University of Alberta and has led an active life as a performer, teacher and concert organizers. She was a founding member of the New York based Guild Trio and continues to perform in North America with the piano trio, Trio Voce.

Born in Hebei, China, Yue Deng won first prize in the National Violin Competition in China and made her solo debut with an orchestra at 13. She was accepted on a full scholarship to Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music at the age of nine.

A true prodigy, Deng later completed her undergraduate studies at the Oberlin Conservatory followed by graduate degree at Julliard School of Music. She has also recorded with top tier artists such as Barbra Streisand, Diana Krall, Barry Manilow, Josh Groban and Willy Nelson.

In addition to studying classical music, Deng has a knack for playing jazz.

“It intrigued me that she has a natural feel for jazz as it is often difficult for a classical musician,” notes Tao. “She’s told me a musician can do what they want. She doesn’t feel she has boundaries. It’s quite liberating.”

The duo opens their program with Beethoven’s Sonata for piano and violin in F major, op. 24.

“It’s Beethoven’s most popular sonata. Beethoven can sometimes overwhelm. He has different styles – tragic, heroic. This is very lyrical. In general, it is very gentle. You see the sunny side of Beethoven and it’s one of people’s favourites.”

Jumping into the 20th century, the duo plays Clarence Cameron’s White Levee Dance.

“Clarence White came from an educated family and studied music which was unusual at the time. He attended the liberal Oberlin College and was the only black person to play in the orchestra. He started composing using Negro spirituals. In the Levee, he uses the a-b-a form of composition. The first part is very dancey and in the middle there’s Go Down Moses before returning to a lively section.”

They also play Richard Rodney Bennett’s Hexapoda, five pieces embodying a jazz rhythm and feel incorporated into a classical work.

And then there’s Pulitzer Prize winning William Bolcom’s Graceful Ghost Rag.

“It was from a set of three. The section at the end has a soft, wispy feel almost like a ghost.”

A special feature is the addition of St. Albert pianist Justine Lai, 15, winner of the senior piano scholarship and Chopin Scholarship at the St. Albert Rotary Music Festival.

The Grade 10 student at Ă©cole Secondaire St. Marguerite d’Youville will play Chopin’s Nocturne in G Minor, Op. 37, No. 1, one of the master composer’s simpler nocturnes.

As Tao notes, the program is filled with great diversity.

“You have two very experienced and accomplished musicians. There’s a lot of variety in the repertoire, and even if you don’t like everything, you’ll like something.”