Junction Trio: John Zorn and Beethoven in Dialogue

Overview

The Junction Trio’s program, anchored by Ravel’s brilliant work rich in color and sonorities, features John Zorn’s haunting and ferocious 2015 Ghosts — a piece loosely based on the Largo movement from Beethoven’s Ghost Trio, which opens the concert. WQXR’s Paul Cavalconte hosts.

JUNCTION TRIO

Jay Campbell, cello
Stefan Jackiw, violin
Conrad Tao, piano

Ludwig van Beethoven

“Largo” from Piano Trio, Op 70 No.1 (Ghost Trio)

John Zorn

Ghosts (2015)

Maurice Ravel

Piano Trio

Individual creators and performers have been hit hard by the pandemic shutdown, which has made it especially difficult for them to earn an income. WQXR has been working on ways to help in any way possible, so as part of its newly-announced STAR initiative, WQXR is pleased to announce the first cohort of its Artist Propulsion Lab. Six early and mid-career artists, hand-selected by the WQXR team, will receive an honorarium of $15,000, as well as a budget of up to $5,000 to engage collaborators and commission works. They will have the opportunity to take advantage of WQXR’s various outlets to reach audiences via Greene Space performances, on-air curation opportunities, and much, much more.

Three renowned visionary artists of the next generation combine talents in this eclectic new piano trio, Junction. Violinist Stefan Jackiw, recognized for musicianship that combines poetry and purity with an impeccable technique, returns with pianist Conrad Tao and cellist Jay Campbell. Tao, who appears worldwide as a pianist and composer, has been dubbed a musician of “probing intellect and open-hearted vision” by the New York Times. Approaching both old and new works with the same curiosity and emotional commitment, Campbell has been called “electrifying” by the New York Times. Recent concerts of the trio have included performances at Washington Performing Arts, Portland Ovations and the Royal Conservatory in Toronto.