Amaryllis Trio in Sebastopol June 27

SUMMER SCHUBERT SUNSHINE

Though not as well known as the formidable Trio Navarro, the Amaryllis Trio has had an increasing chamber music presence since 2012 with manifold Sonoma and Marin County concerts. Sebastopol’s St. Stephen's Church and the Numina Center for the Arts hosted them June 27 in a sparkling concert of four composers' compositions.

Piazzolla’s popular "Four Seasons of Buenos Aires" began and ended the evening, beginning with the spring and summer movements and ending with fall and winter. This languid and at turns sprightly music was effectively played, and the syncopated rhythms were underscored throughout. The opening Allegro from Mozart’s G Major Trio (K. 564) followed in a performance that was deft but marred by muddy instrumental textures and intonation.

Beethoven early C Minor Trio (Op. 1, No. 3) closed the first half. The Amaryllis caught the drama of the opening bars and the quick change to the light-hearted second theme. Violinist Lisa Doyle and cellist Wendy Reynolds played several fetching duos that echoed hints of Haydn’s music, and the theme and five variations were performed with a plaintive character. The finale (prestissimo) had the required drama. The many modulations and deceptive cadences gave the work several surprises. It was playing of taste and spice, the rhythmic foundation and voice leading provided by pianist Sonia Morse Tubridy.

Two movements from Schubert’s grand first trio in B-Flat Major, Op. 99, concluded the classical segment of the program. The selected sections included the spiritual Andante. Completed in 1828 in the last year of the composer’s life, the piece was taken with judicious tempos that allowed the sunshine of the Viennese master’s art to have prominence. Here Ms. Doyle’s shimmering high notes were telling, and there were hints of the themes in the well-known “Trout” Quintet. The Andante is all song, the piano part almost unimportant against the glorious lyricism occurring in the cello and violin lines. Such music leaves the mind with difficulty.

The Amaryllis’s balanced program was a happy early summer treat to an audience that was appreciative for both the performance and the eclectic repertoire.