San Francisco Performances presents Z.E.N. Trio featuring Narek Hakhnazaryan, Esther Yoo, and Zhang Zuo
Herbst Theatre
Veterans' Building, San Francisco War Memorial Performing Arts Center, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102-4522 USA 7:30 PM, Friday, October 18, 2019

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[7:36 PM lights down; announcements by Melanie Smith]

1. [7:39 PM] Franz Schubert (1797-1828): Adagio in E-flat Major, Op. 148, D897 Notturno
   [work ends 7:47 PM]

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op.8

1. [7:50 PM] Allegro con brio
2. [8:04 PM] Scherzo: Allegro molto
3. [8:11 PM] Adagio
4. [8:18 PM] Allegro
   [set ends 8:24 PM; applause & bows; then off]

[8:49 PM lights down, announcements, band out]

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975): Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op.67

1. [8:51 PM] Andante; Moderato; Poco più mosso
2. [8:59 PM] Allegro con brio
3. [9:02 PM] Largo »
4. [9:07 PM] Allegretto; Adagio
   [set ends 9:17 PM; applause & bows; then off]

1. [9:20 PM] Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943): Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14, (1912, rev. 1915); arr for string trio by Gayane Hakhnazaryan (Narek's mother)
   [show ends 9:26 PM; out for applause & bows twice; then off for good at 9:28 PM]

• Narek Hakhnazaryan: cello;
• Esther Yoo: violin;
• Zhang Zuo: piano.

Although tonight's show was the San Francisco premiere for this new “supergroup”, the draw of such chamber music luminaries wasn't sufficient to attract much more than a half-full house. A cryin' shame, I tell ya! Well, I likes it, even if the yahoo's don't.

Zhang Zuo appeared to be rather pregnant, and played the entire show barefoot … Not having seen her before, I can't really comment about the latter condition. The former part didn't seem to have much effect on her playing, though the guy sitting behind me was quite willing to share his less than generous critical opinion at setbreak.

I though Esther Yoo's playing was also quite good – from my listening point, her tone was very mellow. I'll definitely try and see her again!

Narek Hakhnazaryan was probably the most super of these stars, and the program tonight certainly seemed to favor him over the others. Not that they had easy parts or simple accompaniment, just that he seemed to be leading things. Maybe that's just the group dynamic? I dunno! Guess I'll have to see them again as a group! Like Yoo, he played with a warm, burnished tone, and when the score called for it, his fingers dashed like lightning across the fretboard. I could see and hear why he's a star!

Program Notes or program notes

Today's photo gallery comes from ol' squinty!

Whoa! This section is incomplete for now, sorry!

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2019 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2019 event list! ☸ On to the next event!