Concert review: Paddington Trio

There was a rare appearance at this concert of a work inspired by a sewing machine. Paärme means ‘Hem’ in Finnish, and the Finnish composer Lotta Wennäkoski’s Piano Trio, so named, has all manner of appropriate sounds, played here with colourful energy by the Paddington Trio.

There was rapping on the instruments, plucking and vigorous arpeggiandos from which fragments of melody emerged. The musicians showed fine bow control in a slow, hushed section, with spectral portamentos and harmonics, before matters morphed into a jaunty eccentric dance.

The opening of Schubert’s E flat major Piano Trio D929 was splendidly spirited. There was serenity and warmth in the second subject melody, with moments of lilting sweetness when violin and cello played together.

Cellist Patrick Moriarty produced gentle, velvet tone in the opening of the second movement, and once the piano took up the theme the string players commented on it with real tenderness. Sometimes the aconstant reiterations of the octave motto can become hectoring, but never here.

The Scherzo had captivating lightness and delicacy, while in the Trio, violinist Tuulia Hero played her filigree lines against the cello tune with sparkling deftness. The energetic finale had robust muscularity, with passages of extrovert drama to balance the prevailing sense of good-natured high spirits.

Tim Homfray